Accident Prone

"May I know who the lucky guy is?", Max asked Sabrina cautiously.

Liz told Max that Sabrina's engagement with Jackson is a sham. Because of that, Max is investigating Jackson's past and he knows that Jackson is cheating. And Liz told Max about the phone call as well, but what Max does not know is: who is the mystery guy who can make his big sister blush like a teenage girl?

After all, his sister just admitted that she is in love, how can he not be curious? That is his future brother-in-law!

Sabrina took a deep breath and stifled a laugh at Max's expression. His eyes showed that he is burning to find out, and somehow it reminded her when they were little kids. Max was always curious, about everything.

Sabrina wondered, should she tell Max that she fell for Ashton? Probably. Well, there is no harm telling Max, but how will Max react? He will be supportive, at least that is what Sabrina hopes.

Sabrina was about to answer, when the door of Max's office opened after a quick knock.

Sabrina turned to see who is disturbing these last few minutes she has with Max and she swallowed Ashton's name which was on the tip of her tongue when she saw Hunter peeking in. There is NO WAY she will say that she is in love with Ashton in front of Hunter. She is not ready for this!

"Meeting in five…", Hunter paused when he saw Sabrina. He came to pick up Max. Ever since Max started working as a CEO in Nathan's place, Hunter is helping out Max. He is something like a personal assistant, even though they didn't make it official.

Hunter's eyes didn't leave Sabrina while he closed the door behind him. "Wow! So, you know how to come to the Alpha group! But you come to see Max. Why not me? Am I not worthy? …"

"Oh, be quiet!", Max interrupted Hunter. "Rina needs help, and it is obvious that I am of more help than you are."

Hunter grimaced. "I can beat up people better than you."

Max rolled his eyes. "This requires planning and finesse, something you don't have. And don't even try to argue on this because we don't have much time. You can wait out in the hallway or here but be quiet and let us finish what we started."

Hunter observed Max's serious expression and his eyes darted between Sabrina and Max a few times before he asked: "Trouble?"

Max looked at Sabrina. "Hunter knows as well, so you can talk."

Hunter was confused. "I know what?"

Max saw that Sabrina is not going to answer, so he did: "That the engagement between Rina and Jackson is fake."

Hunter's mouth formed an 'O' shape when he realized that they are talking about THAT tricky topic.

He took a seat on the chair next to Sabrina who was looking at him apprehensively.

"Yes, I know about it. But I would not call it fake. Engagement is an engagement no matter if it's out of love, or is a contract because of some other interest. In many cultures, an engagement is arranged by family members when the couple is at a very young age, or before the two people in question even meet, and it's still a valid engagement...", Hunter stopped his chatter when he saw that Max is glaring at him.

Hunter cleared his throat. "You are talking about it because…?"

Sabrina was not sure how to answer this. She wondered, how would Hunter react if he knows that she is with Ashton? Sabrina realized that Hunter would probably be upset because she kept this as a secret from him. Ah! And they are living together already!

Sabrina knows that she was rash with the whole moving-in situation, but she only wants to be with Ashton and not think about anything else. Spending evenings with Ashton and waking up in his embrace is heavenly. And from Monday he will come every day to the FD Studio as well, that will definitely be a bonus.

"Are you going to break up with Jackson?", Hunter's guess pulled Sabrina out of her thoughts.

One glance at Sabrina told Hunter that his question hit a bullseye. Well, why else would she discuss her fake relationship with Max?

Sabrina took a deep breath. Well, both of her brothers are here, and if she can't trust them, then she can't trust anyone.

"I am thinking how to do it cleanly.", Sabrina responded.

Max's brows furrowed in disproval. "It's a breakup. No matter how you do it, it will not be clean. Someone will be hurt, and it's always the person who gets canned."

Max saw that Sabrina pressed her lips into a line, a clear sign that she does not like what she hears, but he needs to say more: "You and Jackson are together for eight years. No matter in what kind of relationship you are, or if he has any feelings for you, he will not take the break up easily. It's a matter of pride, and Jackson has a lot of it."

Sabrina rubbed her forehead for a few seconds before asking: "Do you know why I accepted to take part in this engagement play?"

"Epilepsy.", Hunter responded. "You think that he has epilepsy and that you are responsible for it."

Sabrina nodded. "We had a few disagreements before, and every time he would mention that he is sick because of me."

"But you don't know if he is truly sick.", Hunter said.

Sabrina bit her lower lip.

"He is using your guilt against you.", Max voiced his thoughts. "Rina, you need to ask yourself, assuming that he IS sick, how long will this charade go? Will you marry him because of that guilt? Or will you stay forever engaged? Will you give up on the man you love because of it? Or will you sneak around with him while avoiding Jackson?"

Hunter perked up his ears. Sabrina has a man she loves? This is new. This is big! Who is it!?

Sabrina frowned and ignored Hunter's exaggerated expression. She focused on Max. "Of course, I will not marry Jackson. Pretending to be in a loving relationship while we stay platonic in private is one thing, but getting married to a man I don't love is impossible. Even if I put my emotions aside, marriage has legal consequences which allow him to have half of everything I own, and I will not allow that."

Max looked at Sabrina sternly. "Then it's time to break up. Don't delay. And do your best that Jackson does not find out that you love someone else."

Sabrina looked at Max while panic swelled inside her when she understood the meaning behind his words. "Do you think Jack will hurt him?"

Max shrugged. "Even if Jackson does not love you, in the eyes of many, you are his fiancée and he will not allow you to be with another man. That would tarnish his reputation."

Sabrina snorted. "His reputation? He is sleeping around, and that is not a secret! What about my reputation?"

"Don't tell me that you genuinely believe how men and women are equal.", Max said with a voice full of concern. "Rina, maybe you can ignore people who are whispering behind your back that Jackson is cheating on you, but he will not do that. His reputation is built on the fact that the two of you are engaged, and that he is in charge. To make it worse, for him this is more than just a macho thing. Once the word spreads how the two of you are not together, his business will take a hit. Do you think that he will accept that calmly?"

The thought that Jackson will not give up easily was on Sabrina's mind. But she didn't think that he might go after Ashton.

"What should I do?", Sabrina asked Max.

"First, decide if you want to break up with him or not."

"I want to.", Sabrina responded resolutely.

Max nodded in approval. "Then, do it as soon as possible, before he finds out that your heart is taken. If he does not know about it already. But be careful, don't allow him to catch you alone. I will get you two bodyguards."

Sabrina blinked rapidly while processing Max's words. "Bodyguards? Do you think that he will hurt me?"

Max shrugged. "Angry man can do anything. But let's not risk it. OK? If he is planning something, he will probably not do it in obvious places like your apartment or your work. But if he invites you somewhere without people, don't accept…"

"And if you need to see him or go somewhere he can catch you on your own, tell us in advance.", Hunter added. "We want to know about it. Don't go out alone until the dust settles and we know that he moved on."

Max agreed with Hunter and chimed in: "If there is a chance Jackson knows who the other man is, make sure you warn him. Jackson is on the skinny side, and many can defeat him in a fair fight, but that does not mean that he will play fair."

Sabrina's eyes darted between Max and Hunter. "You are scaring me."

Hunter lifted his hands defensively. "Let's hope that we are overthinking it and that none of that happens. But it's better to be prepared than to regret later…"

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