Chapter Nine
829 Words
Nora's pov
"Hey, Nora!"
A voice, familiar and clear, cut through the quiet hum of the restaurant. I started to turn my head, trying to spot who it was, but before I could fully face them, a hand landed lightly on my shoulder. I looked up. It was Max, a guy from my old medical school. Our eyes met, and a wide, genuine smile spread across my face.
"Heyy, Max, how did I find you here? Longest time!" I exclaimed, genuinely surprised.
"Have you forgotten this is my area?" he asked, a playful grin on his face. He gently took my hand, pulling it closer to him. "I have missed you, Nora." He bent down and kissed the back of my hand. His eyes stayed fixed on me, almost like he didn't even notice I was sitting with someone else at the table.
My gaze flicked to Alex. His eyes were already burning, dark with anger. He looked from Max to me, then back to Max again, his jaw tight. I could practically feel the heat coming off him.
"Uhm, Max, it's okay," I said, pulling my hand back gently. "As you can see, I'm with someone." I gestured towards Alex with my free hand.
"Oh, yes, I saw when you two walked in," Max replied, his smile dimming a little. A hint of disappointment clouded his face. "Is he your new date?" he asked, his voice a bit low.
I gave a small laugh. "Lol," I chuckled softly. "Alex, uhm, this is my colleague, Maxwell," I said, pointing towards Max. "And Maxwell, this is Alex, my..." My mind suddenly went blank. I didn't know what to call him. My tongue felt thick, and the words just wouldn't come out.
Both their eyes were stuck on me, waiting for me to finish the introduction. Alex listened closely, wanting to know what I would call him. Maxwell was eager to hear if Alex was my boyfriend, or something more. The air felt thick with their silent questions.
"Anyway, Maxwell, why are you here?" I asked quickly, changing the subject. I wanted to move past the awkward silence. "Did you come with your new girl?"
"Nora, you haven't answered me. Who is this guy?" Maxwell pressed, ignoring my question. His voice sounded demanding, just like an ex-boyfriend might.
His questions hit a nerve. I looked him straight in the eyes, a sudden fire burning inside me. I snapped back at him, my voice sharp. "This man has a d**k bigger than yours. So get your butt out of here if you don't have anything else to say."
"You heard her, right? Move your ass from here," Alex added, his voice low and dangerous. I could see both jealousy and anger in his words. His eyes were staring fiercely at Maxwell, like a predator.
"I will text you, Nora," Maxwell mumbled, his face turning red. He looked embarrassed, humiliated. He quickly turned and walked away from our table.
I knew Alex wanted to ask me more about Maxwell. It was written all over his face. His eyes kept flicking to where Maxwell had been, but he didn't say anything out loud. He just sat there, quiet.
"Please don't mind him," I said, trying to smooth things over and start our conversation again. "He always likes to stick his nose into other people's business."
"It's fine," Alex said, his voice calm now. "Everyone has an ex."
"Ex? But I didn't say he's my ex, Alex," I shot back, a hint of challenge in my voice.
This time, he couldn't hold it in. The question burst out. "Then who is he?" he asked. But before I could say anything, he quickly added, "I mean, it's not like I'm trying to be nosey, but the way he acted made me ask."
"It's fine, Dr. Alex," I said, nodding. I decided to give him a little more information, just enough to keep him hooked. "Anyway, he's a very close friend of mine. Someone I could go to if I absolutely had to lose my virginity."
I watched his face carefully, waiting for his reaction. The truth was, Maxwell was just a colleague who worked at the same hospital as me.
Earlier on, when Alex had punched in the hotel's address on his car's GPS, a lightbulb practically exploded over my head. I pulled out my phone and put across a quick message to Maxwell.
[Hey, could you do me a huge favor? If you can make it, I would like you to by Master Hotel and act like my jealous ex]
I knew Maxwell would come through because he used to be an actor, and he played his part perfectly.
I want to make Alex think that if he didn't act fast, if he didn't step up, he could lose his chance.
Yes, it was all part of my grand plan, and so far, it was working perfectly.
"Like more of friends with benefits?" he asked
- Writer
