Olivia Sparks

In the Sui Estate, Maxen waltzed to his designated car garage on the property. 

It housed a few of his collection of sports and supercars, arranged in a row and looked like shiny toy cars when it glistened as the lights turned on one by one.

Standing in front of the key cabinet, it surprised Jack when Maxen threw a key to his way. "Have someone drive this up. I will take it out for a spin later."

"Up, Your Highness?" Jack asked, his brows, furrowed. There's only one place that Maxen calls 'Up', and that was his private residence at the southern tip of the island. 

He rarely visited the place and in those occasions, it would be for serious matters like official visitation from foreign dignitaries or him and Wyatt brainstorming strategic plans for the military.

"Yes, up at Notios Estate and Jack, prepare a dinner for two as well. Thank you."

Bowing lightly, Jack replied, "Absolutely, Your Highness. Is there anything else that you wished to be done?"

Maxen looked over his shoulders, his hand dipped in his pants pocket when for a second he remembered something. "The thing which I asked you to get done, is it ready?"

Bowing lightly with his head, Jack affirmed, "Yes, it is waiting for you in the car, Your Highness."

And with that, Maxen left the car garage with Jack hot on his tail. 

…

"Where are you? I'll pick you up." Maxen said as soon as Olivia answered the call. He was driving to clear his mind and just entered the metro after passing through the electronic toll system. 

Slipping back in her dress after their two-hour long treatment, her brow raised as she sensed something amiss in his tone. "Hello to you too, Max. I'm at Shibumi with Ava and Emily."

"Do you have plans tonight?" His fingers tapped on the steering wheel as he switched lanes and made a U-turn.

"No, I don't. I just want to stay at home and relax for tomorrow. Why? Are you driving? Wait. Are you ok because you don't sound ok?"

As she found her way to the lobby, Olivia didn't notice the stares of the other patrons above the magazines that covered their faces as they listened to her phone call. However, the gossip mongers quickly hid and shield themselves using the centerfolds when Emily and Ava came into view. 

"I'm okay, baby. I wanted to bring you somewhere I bet you will love." 

"Oh rally? How far are you from this hotel? I can walk home and we could meet in the parking lot," Olivia suggested, holding her palm up so Emily and Ava could find where she sat in a corner of the lobby by the man-made waterfall.

"No, you don't have to walk back, baby. We're fifteen minutes away from the hotel. I'll send MIB2 to pick you up."

"But I love walking... Ok, whatever. Bye." Knowing Maxen's domineering attitude, Olivia didn't contest anymore and dropped the call to chat with her friends. Besides, he's driving and driving needs one's full and undivided attention.

"Bu–" Maxen laughed hysterically when Olivia abruptly ended their call. In his mind, he wanted to talk to her until she's inside the car. He wanted to talk with her 24/7 which is weird considering how he hated talking to people because through the years all he ever had were shallow conversations with people whose names he couldn't even remember. Well, except for his friends.

"Did you hear that?" He slightly faced MIB2 and uttered under his breath, "She just dropped another call on me. God, that girl needed to be disciplined."

Back in the spa, the three ladies–Ava, Emily, and Olivia–enjoyed a cup of tea as they waited for MIB2, and true to Maxen's words, MIB2 arrived at the lobby not a second later than fifteen minutes.

"Ooops, that's my school bus ladies." Olivia placed her teacup down and gathered her belongings. 

Emily and Ava snapped their heads to the spa's entrance and saw MIB2 and Shadow waiting outside.

"He can't get his hands off you, can he?" Emily tutted, shaking her head. 

Beside her, Ava relayed, "I almost forgot to tell you, but he gave me Fire's baby pony." Ava giggled, her shoulders wiggle as she sent a proud out over Emily.

"No waaaay!" Emily's saucer eyes met Ava's who nodded behind her teacup. "That's smart of you, Ava. Maybe I should start making my list too. Livi darling, if you guys fought again, let me know ok? That guy… he has all the riches in the world but never shared it with his friends. And now you're here, it's high time I exploit his weakness." Emily rubbed her hands as she thought of that one thing in Maxen's residence that she had been eyeing for a while.

Before her gal pals could cook up random things to exploit Maxen, Olivia cheek kissed and warned them, "Be careful with Maxen. He might be gracious now, but you'll never know. I've met people like him around the world and there's always more to them than meets the eye."

Hearing Olivia, Emily and Ava exchanged looks. They knew she was into wealth management so it was a given that she knew a thing or two because they too have seen a thing or two after hanging out with Maxen. But why did it seem like the words she had spoken felt discomforting and scarier, as if she had seen worse? As if a royal family member had swindled her?

...

Sliding inside the car, Olivia mused, "I just realized, that perhaps moving in with you is a smart move."

She glanced at Maxen with a smile as her stomach fluttered at the thought of the intense and invisible pull that exists between them like two opposite ends of a magnetic pole.

However, her smile faltered as Maxen lunged forward, buckling her in her seat. His usual playful demeanor was replaced with a glacial expression–cold and numbing–enough to cause the person next to him a frostbite in seconds.

Cupping his face, she lifted it and scanned his eyes for answers but saw none, so she asked, "Is something wrong?"

Maxen forced a smile, albeit rueful. He wanted to scream that yes, there was something wrong. He didn't want to leave and the fear of the unforeseeable future was gutting him, but he didn't want to ruin the night for them.

Hooking his finger between his tie and neck, he yanked and tried to loosen it. "Let's talk about it later."

He looked at the rearview mirror and saw MIB2 and Shadow riding the car behind.

Taking Olivia's hand, he pressed a kiss on its back. His hot breath against the thin skin of her hand tickled her, sending butterflies to her stomach and tinting her cheeks pink.

"Let's go somewhere I think you will love," Maxen said, planting another kiss on her lips because, "I can't get enough of you, baby."

"Okay, you have to start driving, Max," Olivia pushed him, shaking her head. "And keep those hands on the steering wheel," she warned.

Arriving at their destination, Olivia realized where they were. Maxen opened the door for her and offered his hands, lacing it with hers as they walked towards the foyer.

"I thought we'd be riding horses. I saw a stable on the way," Olivia commented.

"Well, it's too dark outside. But if you want to ride something, you can ride me." He whispered, burning her ears red.

"C.o.c.ky bastard." Olivia retracted her hand, but Maxen chuckled and tightened his grip, pulling her closer to his side. His possessive arm coiled on her waist, never letting her stand an inch away from him, savoring their few hours together before he leaves for a month.

Upon entering the mansion, Maxen and Olivia went straight to the far end of the hallway where two double doors stood tall and proud.

Stopping before the doors, Maxen faced Olivia and frisked his pockets. He gestured for Olivia to hold her palms up and so she did, tilting her head to the side as she wondered what could be his surprise.

"I will be away for a month," Maxen trailed off and took a sharp breath. He saw how a corner of Olivia's lips curled down for a split second before she regained her composure, placing her other hand on his c.h.e.s.t in silent consolation.

He continued, "So I have to give you my present ahead of time." He placed a skeleton key on her open palm, bedecked with a tiny Columbian emerald on the center of the handle.

"Thank you." She looked up to meet his gaze and bit her lower lip to contain the rush of excitement that coursed through her veins. She traced her gaze from Maxen's eyes towards the doors, wondering what lies inside, waiting for her but her reverie was cut short when Maxen spoke behind her, "And you need this one too."

He handed a key card and a vehicle pass that she would need to enter the premises of his estate, which she quickly put inside her bag.

Standing behind her, Maxen coiled his arms on her waist, her body molding into his body in liquid fashion. With her head tilted to the side, Maxen traced the tip of his nose from her shoulder to the length of her neck and up to her ears, sending featherlight touches to which she softly mewled.

"I have a feeling you'll abandon me once we're inside." He chuckled, biting the shell of her ear. 

Olivia suppressed her smile and tipped her head up as she quizzed, "Why don't we open this door and find out, shall we?"