Chapter 0178
+25 BONUS
Maximus arrived right on time and chose one of the many bars in the Plaza Mayor area. He messaged Serenity to let her know, and soon after, she arrived with a bright smile on her face. Seeing her, Maximus felt a sharp pang in his stomach, the same feeling he’d had since their first meeting. He couldn’t understand why.
“Hello, Mr. Palmer! Sorry for the delay; I got caught up taking some pictures,” Serenity said as she sat down.
“Hello, Serenity! No worries. What would you like to drink?”
“I think just some sparkling water with ice–it’s so hot out!”
“Were you far from here?”
“No, it was an easy walk!”
“I was surprised by your email. Why are you looking for a job, Serenity?” Maximus asked bluntly.
“Well, I’m not really looking, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity.”
“Interesting. I thought you might be in some kind of trouble…”
“I’m not rich, but I’d like to earn my own money and become independent. Now that I’m moving to Valentia, I thought it might be a good idea to take a gap year, work, and gain some experience.”
As they waited for their food, the conversation flowed naturally. It felt as if they’d known each other for years, a strange sense of camaraderie.
“So, Serenity,” Maximus began, “what exactly are you hoping to achieve by working with me? I assume you’re still a student.”
“That’s right! I’m looking for experience. I’m hardworking, dedicated, and a quick learner. I’ve heard your company is one of the most important in Valeria. You might not think it’s a big deal because you own it, but working there is a dream for many people–including me.”
“You’re very young. I assume you haven’t finished your studies yet?”
“No, but I’m willing to take a gap year. I can work, and I promise I won’t disappoint you.”
“My dear Serenity, I’m tempted to hire you, but company policy prevents me from doing so. I haven’t even seen your CV, but I can tell you have potential in photography!”
“Don’t patronize me! I take it you can’t hire me, right?” Serenity said, giving him a piercing look.
“To be honest, no, I can’t. I was the one who implemented the rule that everyone working at the company must have a university degree. Even my son doesn’t work there–he’s currently studying in London.”
“I see… Well, at least I tried!” Serenity said with a shrug, taking a sip of her wine.
“Maybe
in a few years, when you’ve finished your studies, you can reach out personal number, so what do you say?
- me. I never change my
+25 BONUS
Chapter 01 71
“Sounds like a deall” Serenity said, extending her hand with a wide grin..
Their food arrived, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Serenity was talkative, steering clear of anything personal or family–related. She had been taught to be cautious about revealing her background. After all, she wasn’t just any girl, and her safety always came first.
“You know, Serenity, you remind me of someone…” Maximus said suddenly, his tone tinged with nostalgia.
“Oh? Who?” Serenity asked, raising an eyebrow.
“When I met you at the airport, you seemed familiar, but I couldn’t figure out why. After a couple of days, it finally clicked.”
“Now I’m intrigued! Who do I remind you of?”
“My ex–wife,” Maximus admitted, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Your ex–wife?” Serenity replied, feeling a bit uncomfortable. She suspected this might be some cheap flirtation tactic. Unlike what Maximus believed, she did know about his reputation as a “cradle robber.”
“Yes.”
“But as far as I know, you’re not divorced. I don’t see the connection. I’m not blonde, nor am I fair- skinned like your current wife,” Serenity said, her tone serious.
“Before I married my current wife, I was married to someone else. Almost no one knew about that relationship–it was more of a family matter,” Maximus explained, his voice heavy with nostalgia.
“Wow. That’s surprising, Mr. Palmer. A university classmate of mine is a huge fan of yours and claims to know everything about you, but she never mentioned your first marriage. As you said, no one–or rather, almost no one–knew about it.”
“Serenity, you remind me of her a lot. My ex–wife was just a year younger than you when we got married. It’s strange, but I see some of her features in you. She wasn’t as tall, and her eyes weren’t the same color as yours, but there’s a resemblance.”
“Forgive me, but I don’t know how to take what you’re saying,” Serenity said cautiously.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable Let’s change the subject.”
“No, now you’ve left me curious! I’d like to hear your story, Mr. Palmer.”
“There’s not much to tell,” Maximus said, leaning back. “We were young. Well, she was young–almost a child, like you. I was ten years older. I did and said things I shouldn’t have, and in the end, I had to sign the divorce papers. I have to admit, it was the most bitter day of my life.”
“Well, I imagine things improved when you married your current wife, Mrs. Alexia Levett.”
“How do you know about her?” Maximus asked, intrigued.
“As I said, I had a university classmate who’s a huge fan of yours. Honestly, it used to annoy me when she talked about her fascination with you, but now, it come in handy,” Serenity said with a smirk.
Chapter 0178
+25 BONUS
“Wow. I had no idea people outside Valeria knew so much about me.”
“At least in my country, they do. My friend told me that your relationship with Ms. Levett was like a fairy tale. You met in high school, drifted apart, then reunited to work together and made a great team before getting married. A lot of girls envy that story. I’m not one of them, but hey, everyone sees things differently.”
“Really? That’s what people say about me?”
“Absolutely. My friend heard it from her mom, and my grandmother mentioned it too. Apparently, your wedding was quite the televised event, according to my friend.”
Maximus was stunned. The version of his life that Serenity described sounded nothing like the reality he remembered.
