The Wrong Room
1520 Words
Maxwell Pov
“An heir, Max. That’s the deal, dude.”
I gripped the phone harder, feeling the annoyance bubbling up. “Yeah, I get it, Dad.”
“Do you really?” His voice was sharp, like a knife. “’Cause Harrison’s already making moves. If you don’t step it up, you’re gonna lose it all.”
“I’m on it,” I shot back, trying not to hang up. “The company’s good.”
“Good isn’t cutting it. Lock it down. Get hitched, have a kid whatever you gotta do.”
I gazed at the city lights outside, each one a reminder of how high the stakes were. “We’ll chat later.”
The call dropped. I put the phone down, feeling the tightness in my shoulders. It was always the same with him pressure, demands, zero appreciation for what I’d already pulled off.
The buzz of a text pulled me from my thoughts. I looked at my screen.
“Max, enjoy the gift we sent. You’ll owe us later.” message popped up.
I rolled my eyes. gift. So typical. I set the phone down, already guessing what Mark and the crew had in store a classic birthday prank.
A knock echoed through the room. I walked over and opened the door. Two of my security guys were standing there, with a woman between them. She was tall, rocking a tight black dress that showed off her curves. Her eyes were wide, looking a mix of nervous and unsure.
“This is her,” one guard said. “The woman you were waiting for.”
I nodded. “Thanks, I can take it from here.”
The guards left, and she stepped inside, pausing for a sec before fully entering the room. She looked around like she was checking it out, her stance tense, eyes cautious. “So, you’re...?” she asked, her voice soft but steady.
“Maxwell... And you are?”
“Sophia.” She paused, giving me a small, calculated smile. “Such a security detail you've got, making sure I wasn't followed?” she said, frowning a bit.
I watched her closely, noticing how she kept her face calm but guarded. “Sophia, they were just doing their job, right? So, what’s the plan?”
She blinked, looking a bit confused. “The plan?”
“Yeah, the whole setup. The surprise.” I waved my hand around the room. “Mark and the guys set all this up, yeah?”
She hesitated but then nodded like she finally got it. “Yes. That’s right.”
I smirked. “Well, you’ve got my interest.”
She seemed to chill out a bit, her shoulders dropping. “I’m happy to hear that.”
“So, how does this work?” I asked, leaning back against the bar. “We just dive right in?”
She kept her eyes on me, trying to read my vibe. “I think we should… take our time.”
I nodded. “Fair enough.” I poured myself a drink and offered her one. “Drink?”
“No, thanks,” she replied quickly, keeping her hands folded in front of her.
I watched her flop down on the couch, every little move super calculated. She was nailing her part professional but you could totally see she was a bit jittery. Mark’s taste had definitely stepped up. “So, what’s the deal?”
She tilted her head. “Deal?”
I chuckled. “You know, the whole ‘investment opportunity’ or whatever line they fed you.”
She hesitated, squinting a bit like she was figuring out how to word it. “I thought we’d… take it easy. Chat first.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Chat, huh?”
She nodded, crossing her legs. “It’s better that way. Gotta build some trust.”
I smirked. “Cool. Let’s chat. What do you wanna know?”
She leaned back, locking eyes with me. “What do you do for fun, Maxwell?”
I laughed, totally caught off guard. “Fun? Not something I get asked much.” I leaned in, elbows on my knees. “But hey, what do you think I do?”
She shot me a small smile, her confidence growing. “You seem like the kind who loves to be in charge. Someone who likes things his way.”
I nodded. “You’re not wrong.” I checked her out, trying to figure out what she was thinking. “And you?”
She paused, her face a total mystery. “I like a good challenge.”
I grinned. “Sweet. You’ll find loads of those here.”
She looked a bit confused for a sec and then sat up straighter, keeping it all professional. “I’m ready for that.”
“Awesome to hear.” I leaned back, crossing my arms. “So, how far are you down to go?”
She didn’t blink. “As far as it takes.”
I laughed, impressed. “Alright, then. Let’s kick it off with something easy—what’s the real scoop here?”
She blinked, keeping her cool. “What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “Mark and the crew love to mess with me, but they usually don’t go all out like this.” I gestured to her. “So, what’s the twist?”
She tilted her head, clearly mulling it over. “No twist. I’m just here to… leave a mark.”
“Well, you’re doing great.” I watched her closely. “But it still feels a bit too perfect. What’s the angle?”
She smiled, but it seemed kinda forced. “There’s no angle. Just trying to make tonight fun.”
I leaned in, catching the hesitation in her eyes. “If you say so. But I can spot a setup when I see one.”
Her face tightened, and she took a breath. “And what kind of setup would that be?”
I gestured between us. “This whole charade. The outfit, the nerves… the ‘innocent’ act.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Is it working?”
I laughed. “Depends. What’s your endgame?”
“To get to know you,” she replied smoothly.
I tilted my head, checking her out. “And why’s that?”
She hesitated, keeping her eyes on me but kinda guarded. “I thought it’d be a no-brainer.”
“Not yet.” I smirked, poking her a bit. “So, spill it—who’s really pulling the strings here?”
She kept her face chill. “Does it really matter?”
“It totally does to me.”
She took a sec, then shrugged a bit. “I’m here ‘cause I wanna be.”
I leaned back, mulling over what she said. Either she was super good at this game, or there was definitely more to it. “Cool. But if you’re playing me, I’ll find out.”
She lifted her chin, confidence shining in her eyes. “I’m not.”
“Alright.” I offered her another drink, but she turned it down. “So, what’s your take on New York?”
“It’s… huge. Crazy fast,” she said.
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s one way to spin it.”
“And packed with chances,” she added, locking eyes with me.
I raised an eyebrow. “Chances, huh?”
She nodded. “Yep, if you know where to hunt.”
I leaned in closer. “And you think you’ve hit the jackpot?”
She smiled, but there was something a bit scheming in her eyes. “I’m feeling lucky.”
“Well, let’s see if you’re on the money.” I gave her a challenging look. “But don’t think I’m easy to wow.”
“I wouldn’t even try,” she shot back, a little smirk playing on her lips.
We sat there for a sec in silence, the vibe getting more intense. I could feel her curiosity, the way she was taking in every word I said. And for the first time in ages, I was really curious back.
“So, Sophia,” I said, breaking the awkward quiet. “What’s your next move?”
She tilted her head, her eyes glued to mine. “That depends.”
“On?”
She grinned. “On how into it you are.”
I smirked. “Count me in.”
She chilled out, sinking deeper into her seat. “Awesome.”
I watched her, feeling drawn into her mystery. Whoever she really was, whatever her deal was, she had my full attention. And as much as I hated to admit it, Mark and the guys might’ve actually done me a solid this time.
“Alright,” I said, standing up and offering her my hand. “Let’s see where this takes us.”
She took my hand and stood up too. “You lead the way.”
And as we moved further into the suite, I couldn’t shake the thought maybe tonight wouldn’t be so boring after all.
- Writer
