Olivia Sparks

After an hour, Maxen and Olivia arrived at his private residence. Holding out his hand, he helped Olivia get off the car, who shivered in her spot the instant she found her footing. 

It was already dark when they arrived in Notios Estate. And just like any other nights in the country, the chilly wind welcomed them. It swept Olivia's dark chocolate hair, which danced as the wind blew past that she had to bunch it with her hand.

Hugging her by the arm, to keep her warm and to calm her racing heart, Maxen led the steps from the driveway to the main door. His tight grip on Olivia's hand reassured her she could count on him for support for that evening.

"Wait," Olivia halted her step. She looked around the pedicured garden, trying to calm her nerves. "Can I smoke here? One. Just one stick." She held out her index finger, her teeth chattering from the cold.

"You smoke?" Maxen c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. He never smelled nicotine on Olivia and hearing her ask for permission was rather… mind-boggling.

"I do, when I'm stressed. But I can't finish a stick so you can finish it for me," she said, rummaging through the stuff in her bag. 

"I don't smoke. It's ok." Maxen shook his head, disappointed over what he was seeing. He tried to taste it before with Oliver and Wyatt but the lingering taste in his mouth made him swear not to touch a single stick ever again.

"Just one stick. I promise." She immediately lit up her stick of a cigarette when she found the little torch.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Hmm. I'm not keen on the sight of you smoking," Maxen swatted the cancerous smoke of white away from him. "Olivia, I know you're under a lot of stress lately, but you're not helping yourself with smoking."

"Do you know what's stressing me? You, stressing about me smoking. You're not helping me right now, Max."

Changing the topic before they get into another heated argument, Maxen probed, "Can I see your cigarette case?"

Passing the silver cigarette case to Maxen, his eyes bulged out of its socket. "Eh?? Are you kidding me? This is empty. That's the last one."

"I told you, just one stick." Olivia grinned like a cheshire cat, triumphant over her successful wordplay. With one last dramatic puff, she buried the half-lit cigar into a potted plant and sprayed sanitizer on her hand.

Hooking her arm on Maxen, she whispered, "Okay, Your Highness. Just show me where the powder room is so I can freshen up before I face my mother." 

Maxen stood rooted in his spot, his hands dipped in his pocket. Olivia knew he wouldn't move unless she says what he wanted to hear. Facing him, she made a commitment, "And wipe off that scowl on your face because that's the last time I will light a cigar, okay?"

Maxen's lips pursed, satisfied with what he heard from Olivia. He gestured an 'Okay' sign and kissed her temple before leading the way inside the mansion and into the study. 

To their surprise, just as they reached the threshold, they could hear chiming giggles inside. Maxen grimaced. He knew who that ticklish sound belonged to because he heard that growing up. 

"I'll use the powder room. You can go in first," Olivia uttered. Maxen nodded and gestured for the waiting house help to usher Olivia to the powder.

Pushing the study's door open, he saw his mother, uncharacteristically sitting on the hospital bed, Indian style, as if she was at a slumber party.

Snapping their heads towards the door, Amelia and Queen Isla regarded Maxen, both ladies smiling at the sight of whom used to be a young boy. He used to walk wobbly, and just like any other boy, he had his days of soiled clothes too.

But the Maxen before them, however, looked polished and gallant, taking powerful, confident strides towards them.

Queen Isla tried her best to hide the proud momma smile on her face by covering half of it with a duvet. Amelia, on the other hand, curiously examined Maxen.

"Oh, my son is back." Queen Isla dropped the duvet and stretched out her arms, welcoming Maxen. She snapped her head between Maxen and Amelia, gauging what her friend's first impression of her son would be. 

Seeing Amelia and Maxen exchanged smiles, she knew it was the perfect chance to list down her son's achievements. 

Imagine her elation when news reached her ears of Olivia's existence, but what delighted her more was when she pieced it all together that the girl her son was seeing was her best friend's daughter.

First impressions last, they said. And she aimed for her son to leave a spectacular first impression on Amelia. After all, her beshy is the mother of the bride.

"Beshy," she held Amelia's hand to her right and gestured to Maxen, "Meet my son, Maxen. He's a colonel in the army. Saved countless hostages. By the way, he's in the Intelligent Services," she winked as she whispered, hiding her mouth at the back of her upright hand. 

She knew Amelia had a knack for geeky stuff and mentioning his division would boost Maxen's credentials, not that he needed boosting but in a way, she wanted to brag about her son as well.

"Oh," Queen Isla's hands dramatically flew to her mouth. "Silly me. I almost forgot… he's single too."

"Mother," Maxen called out to Queen Isla, his voice stern and reprimanding. He could not believe what he was seeing with his eyes and what he was hearing with his ears. He had never seen his mother act so bold and tactless like she was doing now. Where has the timid and proper queen gone?

Arriving inside, Maxen paid his respects to the two ladies first before standing still in a corner to wait for Olivia. "It's good to see you finally awake, Auntie." He smiled at Amelia, glancing at the door again to check on Olivia.

"Thank you, Maxen. And Isla, it doesn't look like he's single. I saw a girl earlier." Amelia laughed, kicking her friend's knee under the duvet. She didn't know why Queen Isla was pimping her son, but she sure sounded fishy. "Don't worry. I'm used to your mother. If you met her in her younger days, she's much crazier."

"Yes, I could certainly picture her in her youth," Maxen raised a single brow at Queen Isla. "And I'm not single. As Auntie saw, I brought a companion." He looked behind him and paused, waiting for Olivia to come in. His brows knitted when he saw her shadow cast on the floor, so he knew she was idly standing out in the hallway, hiding against the wall.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll be back really quick," Maxen held his index finger up, his eyes squinted. 

While Maxen was walking closer to the door, Queen Isla teased, "Come on in, darling. We don't bite. I promise." However, her teasing earned her another nudge from Amelia that Queen Isla had to mouth an annoyed "WHAAAT?" 

And just as Amelia could reply, their attention snapped to the two figures walking towards them with interlaced fingers.

Queen Isla's eyes widened. She saw her photos in the news, but it was different from seeing her up close.