8: Off
1338 Words
The week seemed to have passed in a blink of an eye.
One moment, Count was trying to figure out a way to say no to Maxien, and the other, it's already the date they have agreed to — rather Maxien has forced him to agree to.
In the past days, as usual, Maxien has always done her every day routine; bringing Count a cup of coffee as they both ride the elevator.
On the other hand, unlike the other initial days, the girl has made sure to make the talks minimal, most of the time out of the topic's way — probably so Count wouldn't have the chance to say no and pull a reverse card.
Maxien would often bring him coffee despite Count constantly asking her to stop spending for him because he can get himself a cup anytime.
“Sir, coffee?” Said the girl with a smile, which Count reciprocated with a smaller one as he accepted the cup.
“By the way, you should stop,” he then mumbled, pulled through the cap, then sipped and nodded at the perfect blend, just his taste, although, even after all the times, he still didn't know how Maxien coincidentally guessed the level of sugar and flavor he just loved. “Bringing me coffee. Stop.”
“Stop....?” Maxien looked baffled, puzzled.
Why would Count extend such request?
“Don't you... like, like it? Is it too sweet or still too bitter? I can change—”
“No,” the CEO cut her off, shaking his head, “I mean, it adds to your expenses. You could've put that to savings.”
“Ah,” Maxien laughed deafeningly, to the point that Count had to frown to silently tell her she's being unbelievably loud. “Sorry for that. I... thought you didn't want it so you're telling me to stop.”
“It's exactly my preferred mix, of course I'll love it. But if you use your money for me, I wouldn't like it.”
“It's all fine, Sir Count. I've got a lot of internal debts to pay you. Don't think spending less than five percent of my income to buy you a daily cup of coffee would matter much, money wise. Or you can add the exact cost of coffee on my payroll, just so you won't feel bad. It's up to you...”
“What do you mean?”
“See you later, Sir! Six in the evening. If and only if you've forgotten already, I'll email you the address. Let's work hard today, too!”
With that, Maxien left Count with confusion written all over his face, not bothering to answer his question, and probably not going to do so in the near future, too.
Now, what?
Maxien got debts and she wanted to repay Count? In what exact way? Financially or in another mean? Was he missing something from the past, or in the present?
Or was Maxien just tripping and playing around so the CEO would stop asking her to change the routine she has already got used to?
Because there's just no way, right, given that they only met for a short while? And if Maxien meant that night during the company dinner, when Count took care of her and brought her home, would that be enough reason to do all this — things that are already too much?
~
God d*mn.
For the nth time since he drove off the company right after it closed, Count cursed under his breath and bit his lip in annoyance.
That f*cking assistant.
He should be his right hand everywhere, but Hunter ghosted him for the time being, and when he called the boy, his secretary was laughing so hard, saying he wouldn't make it to dinner because he has something more important to do.
Important what? Girls? His ladies?
That womanizer, really!
As he arrived at the door of Maxien and Brian's residence, he hesitated, a lot!
Would he ring the doorbell or message Maxien first?
Whatever.
He clicked the switch and waited for someone to attend to him.
Not long after, Maxien greeted him with a huge smile, then pulled him inside like a strong bull without further notification.
Count didn't spit any words while he was being practically dragged by someone smaller than him, but someone who's obviously strong enough, too, to carry him.
“Good evening, Sir Count.”
“Yeah,” he nodded.
“Good evening, Mr. Valdemor. It's very nice to finally meet you formally. We haven't talked last time, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Count nodded once more, didn't feel like talking much and conversing with any of the pair.
All Count knew was; he arrived way too early.
Because Maxien was still in the middle of cooking and Brian was currently on his laptop, typing and pinching he bridge of his nose from time to time, stress overtaking him, and then, he closed it and said, “I can finish that later. So, how are you, Mr. Valdemor? I've heard a lot of good things about you, eh.”
“Just fine. Sorry, I don't really speak much.”
“I've been told, too,” Brian chuckled menacingly and stood up from his seat, walking towards Count and sitting just beside the latter. “How do I make you talk... hmm...”
Throughout the whole conversation with Brian Advincula, Count could say that he's a nice guy, very kind, someone who Maxien deserves, someone who deserves Maxien, too.
They seemed like a pair made in heaven. And to top all that, they were soulmates, they were already engaged and planning their wedding a few months from now.
What lucky individuals...
Count, though, didn't know the real reason behind the constant thumps on his chest, constant heartaches and painful pound.
It's either he was envious, he was thinking how it would have been for him and Kiara if they actually lasted, if Kiara didn't die, if he didn't lose her... or its because of seeing the genuine love in Maxien and Brian's eyes, especially when the girl appeared from the kitchen, with trays in hand, and approached Brian to peck on the latter's cheeks.
“So, as I was saying... hey, babe, is it fine to tell Mr. Valdemor about how we met?”
“No problem. If he's interested to know, then why not?” Maxien giggled and sat down in front of Count and Brian, and with a smile, she leaned to rest her back while listening to Brian's storytelling time.
“Yeah, you know, I met her back in highschool, but we're never close, not until college. We're block mates, course mates, we have almost the exact same classes—”
“And Bry was the campus crush.”
They both laughed at Maxien's remark.
“Wasn't that you, though? You're popular among the whole university, Max. With that face of yours, oh, everyone's down bad.”
“Don't lie now, Bry,” Maxien pouted.
“Yeah, sure, Ms. Popular. Back to it, on the finals during first year, I accidentally spilled coffee on my wristband, so I took it off. Max saw my birthmark and decided to show me hers, too. Would you believe that? We're soulmates. And that was the most beautiful moment in my life. Ever.”
Was that how love supposed to feel like? Would every moment become beautiful when you're in love and with the person you truly love the most in this world?
Probably.
But more likely, with his situation, with his soulmate long gone, Count wouldn't actually know. Unless a miracle happens.
On the other hand, somehow, even with all those lovely narration and exchanges he has witnessed between Maxien and Brian, even after seeing the sparks in their eyes whenever their gazes would meet, even after watching how they glow under the influence of love, Count felt like something's really off with Brian Advincula and he just couldn't pin point it.
- Writer
