Saving the Villain

"Oy, Maxen."

Maxen snapped his eyes over the rim of the coffee mug while drinking his morning fuel, and was met with Luke's aghast front. He slowly put the mug away from his lips, tilting his head to the side.

"Last night…" Luke blinked, his eyes glossing over the mountain of paperwork stacked neatly on the table. "Did we finish all that last night?"

"Yes." Maxen held the coffee mug in front of him, standing near the dining table. Luke was standing just right over the couch where he passed out last night.

"That… everything?"

"You passed out. I had to finish everything."

Luke's mouth fell open, looking at Maxen with big eyes. He could swear this guy was a monster. Although Luke had never worked hard as much as he did last night, it was shameful that Maxen still ended up doing most of the work. It reminded him of Asher's desk, but Asher was being groomed as the heir. Hence, that much paperwork was normal.

But Maxen…

"Oy, Maxen," Luke called when he recovered his voice. He had been meaning to ask this question since last night. "Is Cosette's father grooming you to become his heir?"

"No." Maxen's answer was quick.

"No?"

"No."

"Are you joking? I read the documents last night."

"You did."

Luke hissed in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Come on, man. I'm not dumb. Those documents are too hard to be handled by an intern."
"I never said they were easy." Maxen blinked with misplaced innocence in his eyes. "It's a subsidiary of the Blac Corporation. It is directly under Sir Blac's management and he wants me to know the ins and outs."

"So, he's still passing it to you?"

"Not really."

Luke cocked his head to the side, looking at him incredulously. Deep in his heart, he knew that this was nothing but exploitation with the amount of work Maxen had to do for an intern. The papers were more like he was about to run the company on his own. Luke had seen and read enough documents to know their importance, and that mountain of documents on top of the dining hall was all important.

"I already made breakfast," Maxen said as he walked to the sink to wash the coffee mug. "Eat."

Luke scrunched his nose up, watching Maxen walk around the kitchen as if it was his place. Maxen and Cosette had been here since day one. Both of them had grown familiar with his apartment.

"Do you need help?" he asked when Maxen gazed at the mountains of documents on the table.

"I would appreciate that."

"Goodness… why are you speaking so formally to me?" Luke shook his head while Maxen grabbed his coat that was draped over the chair. He carried as much paper as he could, leaving Maxen just a few since the guy seemed he barely had slept.

Luke sent Maxen downstairs, casually talking to the guy regarding his theory of how Conrad's head work. His eyes popped open when a man in a suit bowed at them, taking the documents from Luke and Maxen, and carried them to the black sedan parked outside the building.

"Wow…" Luke blinked, looking at Maxen with his mouth agape. "... you're like a young master now."

"I sent your pay to your bank. Pick me up in the convenience store later." Maxen waved dismissively, ignoring Luke's remarks as he sauntered towards the car.

"Geez. Look at him." Luke held his hands on the back of his head, watching Maxen open the back seat. But before Maxen hitched inside, he held the door open and looked back at Luke.

"Do you want to come?" he asked, taking Luke by surprise.

pAnD a(-)n0ve1.com "What?"

"Get changed if you want to come. We'll wait here."

"What?" Luke frowned while Maxen hitched inside the back seat. Seeing that the car wasn't moving an inch, Luke cocked his head to the side.

"He wants me to come?" he pointed at himself, approaching the car. He knocked on the window, bending down when the window rolled down. "Oy, Max. Do you need me elsewhere?"

"No."

"Why aren't you going?"

"Because it seems you'll cry if left alone."

Luke scrunched his face, looking back at him in dismay. "I'm too traumatized last night! I barely had sleep."

"Then rest for today. I'll come to your place later."

"What — hah!" Luke was rendered speechless, his face contorted as it sounded like he was Maxen's mistress. But then again, having company in his place was far better than being alone.

Luke rested his arms against the windowsill.

"Oy, Max. Let me tell you something. No matter how important this work is, your foundation is your body. Did you even sleep last night?"

"I had a nap." Maxen blinked. "If you're not going, then we'll leave."

"Gosh… if you collapse, Cosette will kill me."



"Don't worry about her."

"Fine." Luke stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "Get a nap on your way."

With that being said, Luke took a step back and watched the car speed away. He held his hand behind his head, shaking it while clicking his tongue. But while watching at the car's rear, the corner of his lips curled up into a subtle smile.

"That guy…" he mumbled, thinking he actually wanted to come because he didn't have anything else to do for today. The only reason he refused was that he didn't want to burden Maxen with his presence, knowing the guy would be in multiple meetings today since he saw his schedule the entire weekend.

"Sometimes, I just wish he's just as indifferent as before." Luke dragged his feet to the rundown apartment building, recalling how nonchalant and insufferable Maxen was back then. Well, he couldn't blame the guy because Luke was too arrogant for his own good.

When Luke reached his flat, he was about to jump straight to the couch to sleep more. However, he stopped by the dining table. He already noticed the lid on top of the table but didn't pay attention to it. Luke opened the lid and chuckled, seeing a warm porridge, egg rolls, and a couple of side dishes.

"Is he trying to charm me or what?" he laughed, dragging the chair to sit on it. "Geez. That guy." — no wonder Luke lost to him in their rivalry for Cosette's heart.

Maxen… was the nicest to the people he actually care for, and his little gestures, although usually take Luke by surprise, could melt anyone's heart. Luke had always felt alone back in the Quinn residence, but while eating this breakfast cooked by Maxen, especially for him, he felt… welcomed.