Max paced back and forth while waiting to board the plane. Four friends watched him, starting to get nervous.
"What are you going to do?" Alex asked, absentmindedly biting his thumbnail while keeping his eyes on Max, who continued walking.
"I don't know. Coming to Hawaii to pretend I know nothing, I think it was a mistake. I should be there and confront them," Gus replied, shaking his head.
"Don't tell me coming and getting out of the hell you were in was a mistake. We're your friends, and at least you had some fun, right?" Max stopped walking and smiled weakly, looking at his four friends: Gustavo and Alejandro, both Americans, Viktor and Sasha, Germans who came to work with him from Berlin.
"Of course, he's had fun shamelessly!" They all burst into laughter, seeing their friend blush and give himself away.
"Shut up, you jerk," they laughed even louder in that private boarding lounge.
"I want to know," said the tall, well-built, elegant man, crossing one leg over his knee and leaning back in his chair. "Has it been so intense that you got lost in those thighs all night and part of the morning?" Max wasn't one to share his personal affairs, and the worst part was that they knew it. His only girlfriend, who had become his fiancée, was currently in New York and part of his father's legal team.
"I've never done this. You know that," they all nodded slowly, wiping the mockery off their faces.
"But it's been done to you, hasn't it? And we don't know for how long. That vile bastard did it to you, and we all hope he gets his karma. And, of course, that you help him," they all remembered that Horacio, another friend of the group who still didn't know he was an ex-friend, was sleeping with Max's fiancée right under his nose. Max had been disappointed by their betrayal. They thought they were covering up their affair perfectly, but Max had discovered them and had gone along with the wedding plans as if nothing had happened, just to teach them a lesson they would never forget. Max despised infidelity; his mother had done it to his father, and he had always believed that being unfaithful was not something a man should do. He believed that when you love someone, it can cause a lot of pain, and even though he loved his fiancée, he would never forgive her for anything in the world.
"Let it out," Alejandro said curiously, along with the others.
"I'll just say this: a true lioness," Max replied, impressing everyone with his response. They then started clapping excitedly and amusedly, but their moment was cut short by the voice over the loudspeaker announcing that it was time to board. "Now, let's head to New York," Max announced, grabbing his briefcase.
***The flight hours to the city of New York went by quickly. Max had constantly replayed the images from the previous night and this morning in his mind, but they would fade away when he remembered that she was married, and it was her honeymoon. “Relax, it was just casual sex,” he felt annoyed and disappointed in himself. He had been the man used for infidelity. Well, maybe the husband was aware of it, but then he shook his head. He had to focus on the merger scheduled for Monday morning and still had to prepare for the meeting alongside his father. This merger was important for the family, but even more so for his father, as he would finally retire from business and end on a high note. Max would become the main figure in everything his father left behind. Though it was a lot of pressure and responsibility, he would take it on. But without a wife by his side as planned. And he didn't know it.
During the journey from the airport to the hotel where his father was temporarily staying, he pondered his next steps to achieve what he had set out to do. A bellhop carried his suitcase, and they headed towards the elevator. Before entering, he turned to his four friends.
"In the bar at nine?" They all nodded, tired from the journey and the late nights they had during their week in Hawaii. Max entered the elevator, and as the doors closed in front of him, he closed his eyes and sighed. "Let this end quickly," he silently pleaded with himself. Upon reaching the suite, he dropped off his things and then went to find his father. It was past two in the afternoon, so he assumed his father would be at lunch. He sent a message to his father's assistant to find out his whereabouts. "Restaurant," came the response. Max smiled, realizing that some habits die hard. He made his way to the restaurant and found his father at a private table with the best view of the city.
"Finally, you're here, son," his father showed excitement upon seeing him. He greeted him and sat down in the chair across from him at the table. "How was the bachelor party?" his father asked, quite curious, taking a bite of his steak. Max signaled the waiter, ordered the same thing as his father, and then watched him eat, waiting for his turn to respond.
"It was good, fun," Max said, avoiding eye contact as he looked out at the landscape. He then let out a long sigh.
"That's an unusual sigh coming from you. What's on your mind?" Max wanted to tell him that there wouldn't be a wedding, but it would have to wait for another time. He returned his gaze to his father.
"Nothing is bothering me, it's just that I'm tired and jet-lagged from the trip. But enough about me," he paused. "Are you ready for the new merger?"
His father finished eating and took a sip of his wine, then wiped his lips with the cloth napkin.
"I'm finally at ease. I'll close this final deal, and everything will be in your hands. I hope you follow in my footsteps while I can still be of service to you."
"Don't start with the topic of death and all that. You're healthy, your latest tests came back stable, we just need to cut
down on the meat," Max's father snorted.
"Never. I love meat," he smiled at his response.
"Well, suit yourself," his father smiled back.
"My other guest has arrived," Max's father said, looking beyond him. Max turned his head over his shoulder to see who he was referring to, and there she was, elegantly walking towards their table: Irina, his current and unfaithful fiancée.
Sunday afternoon rolled around, and Emma was busy packing her clothes into her suitcase, making all the necessary preparations to depart for the airport in just an hour. Her destination: New York. Although she still had one more week remaining in the current location, she felt that it was sufficient. She had achieved a beautiful tan and enjoyed ample rest, and now she was eager to return and move forward with her life. The thought of selling her apartment and using her savings to purchase a fresh new one had crossed her mind. Likewise, she contemplated selling her car and acquiring a different one, longing for everything to be new and untouched by Jamie… or her secret lover.****The following hours felt eternal for her. She thought about all the work that awaited her on Monday, and just thinking about it relaxed her. Emma was addicted to work; focusing her mind on something productive and rewarding was something many wouldn't understand. As she glanced out the window, she saw the dist
Days later...Emma finally completed the purchase of her new apartment. She had used her savings to furnish it to her liking, since everything she had in her old apartment was sold along with it. She looked out of the window in her new living room, and the view was breathtaking. She crossed her arms and admired the Statue of Liberty in the distance as the incoming light bathed the entire space."Finally, a fresh start," she said after adjusting the photo frame next to the state-of-the-art, built-in television. The photo captured her graduation from university, standing alone with a serious expression she often wore in pictures. She smiled and then sighed. Her phone rang in the nearby bedroom. When she picked it up, she saw an unknown number on the screen. She squinted, thinking it could be Jamie, as she had blocked all unknown numbers, but this was a new one. "Do I have to change my number?" The unknown number persisted, so she answered, "Hello?""Can you stop blocking me? I've been t
Emma looked at her mother lying in bed, her smile, and the sparkle in her eyes reminded her of the past, everything she had done to avoid her at all costs, but apparently, it was all in vain. She was here. Seeking money. And perhaps something more."How are you feeling?" Emma asked, approaching the foot of the bed. Her daughter's cold reception only made her mother smile even more."I'm fine. This hospital is a dump, but I'm fine. Why did it take you so long to come for me?" her mother asked. Emma tensed up and shook her head slowly."Come for you? First of all, what do you want? We can settle it right now. There's no need for you to come with me. Tell me, and we can go our separate ways.""Well, I just want a few thousand dollars to get by in the city for a while. And don't come up with small amounts. I know you earn quite well," her mother replied. "Because I work," Emma retorted. "That's why I am where I am, why I strive not to go hungry or suffer from all those shortcomings. Have
Emma looked at herself in the new mirror she had acquired at a prestigious furniture and decor store. She noticed how little tanned she was and scolded herself for not enjoying the sun at the beach a bit more. Then she closed her eyes and smiled weakly, remembering that tall, muscular body with a German accent, full lips that had kissed every corner of her body. She let out a long, heavy sigh. "Who would have imagined that Emma Spencer would do something so crazy in her life?" She admitted to herself that she had never had so many orgasms in her sexual life as she had with Jamie during those few hours they were together. When she opened her eyes, she cleared her throat and touched her cheeks, which had turned a deep pink color, recalling how good that night with the German had been. It was impossible to have something like that again in her life. After that, she would never enter into a relationship for anything in the world. The experience with Jamie had left her with no desire to ha
In front of a beautiful house, within the most luxurious grounds, Max sat in his car with his fiancée, Irina. She kept talking about wedding matters, while his fingers impatiently tapped on his leg. He tried to show interest, but she was quickly wearing out whatever patience he had left."Shameless cheater," he thought to himself."I don't want to ruin the moment, dear, but I need to leave," he said. Irina raised an eyebrow and gave him an irritating look. She crossed her arms, accentuating her daring cleavage."We need to finalize the details of our wedding, darling," Irina responded. Max discreetly took a deep breath and sighed through his teeth. Then he put on a big fake smile."I know, but remember that with the merger of the companies, I'll have more work. Right now, I'm losing money discussing a topic where, in the end, it's always going to be what YOU want, not me. You know why?""Because I'm the best, and because I love you," Irina replied with a triumphant smile. Max had been
"...And you're the only one missing..." her boss's words echoed in her head. How could she escape? How was it possible that the German man was an employee in the same company? Was this some kind of revenge from her past life? Karma, perhaps? "Impossible." She hadn't done anything wrong to deserve the universe collecting a debt from her."I'll be there in a moment. I don't feel well," Emma said honestly. Her stomach had tightened from what she had seen."Really? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" Emma shook her head as if she had come face to face with something."It's just that I must have eaten something that didn't agree with me. I just feel a bit nauseous.""But you haven't had lunch, so what would you vomit, dear? Are you sure...?" Her boss paused her words."What?" Emma asked, alarmed."Are you pregnant?" her boss asked. Emma widened her eyes and quickly denied it."No, no, no, no. Of course not. Impossible." Emma had always been careful. Always. It was impossible for h
Max was left alone in the apartment, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. He had managed to make Irina leave, at least for now, but the situation was far from resolved. Their relationship was crumbling, and Max knew that it was time to face the truth.He walked through the empty rooms, each one a reminder of their shattered dreams. The apartment that was meant to be their temporary getaway now symbolized the disintegration of their future together. Max couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for the life they had once imagined—a home with a garden, a grill area, a pool, a spacious kitchen, an entertainment room, and a view of a lake, with plenty of rooms for their future children. A place where family could thrive.It was one of their dreams as a married couple, although Irina had always preferred a penthouse in a famous and expensive building with a view of the Statue of Liberty. Max had been confident that he could convince her to embrace a quieter life outside the bustling cit
Emma closed the door behind her and then leaned back, slowly sliding down until she was seated on the dark hardwood floor. She lifted her legs against her chest and wrapped her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees. She replayed the encounter with the German man over and over again, losing count of how many times she had done so at that moment. She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. How could she work with someone she had a sexual affair with in Hawaii? And to top it off, he was her boss's boss.“I already have enough with my mother's situation, Jamie, and now this,” she muttered under her breath. She got up and walked to her bedroom, grabbing her towel and a change of clothes before heading to the bathroom. After a long shower, she stepped out to rest. She still had time to read for a while. With the towel wrapped around her hair, she began applying her nighttime creams until the doorbell of her apartment rang.Her eyes widened, alarmed. No one knew her new address
Max had reached the floor where Emma was working, intending to investigate about the client, Jack Bradford, and find out his decision. He also planned to seize the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Byrne about the upcoming meeting. As he stepped out of the elevator, he noticed a gathering of employees near Emma's office. Upon arriving, he witnessed a heated argument between Emma and Jamie, the HR representative. His eyes widened when Emma delivered a punch to Jamie's face, causing him to fall. Emma walked towards him, sat on her heels, and exchanged some words. Everyone around was attentive, and to Max's surprise, he saw Mrs. Byrne with a discreetly concealed smile."What is going on here?" Max asked, and everyone turned to look at him before dispersing. Mrs. Byrne cleared her throat and approached Emma's office. Emma stood up and waited beside Jamie for him to enter."I saw everything," Mrs. Byrne said. "Mr. insulted Miss Spencer, and she defended herself." Max was in the doorway, with Emm
Monday morning, and Emma was in such a good mood that she couldn't believe it herself. She thought, "When was the last time I felt this way?" She couldn't recall a day like this. Seated, her gaze fixed on her computer screen, she efficiently tackled all the work she wanted to get ahead of, ensuring the rest of the afternoon was free of pending tasks. She sorted through all the memories of what had happened on Saturday with Max—the way he kissed every inch of her body and how he pinned her against the bathroom tiles to reclaim her. This morning, she noticed a love bite near one of her breasts and briefly smiled. However, it didn't end there. She grabbed her phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to Max with the caption: "First and last, Mr. Müller" accompanied by a smiling emoji. She received an immediate response, as if Max had been eagerly awaiting a message from her, "So it shall be, Miss Spencer," along with a military-style salute emoji (hand to the forehead). Throughout Sunday, Emma
Adler glanced at the doctor's face once he had finished examining his heart. He sighed and pressed his lips together, sensing that this could be bad news. He settled into the vintage wooden chair beside the large bed."Do you know you need to go for regular check-ups, Adler?" the elderly man asked. Adler nodded and looked away. Since Friday, he hadn't been feeling well, and discovering that his beloved daughter-in-law, whom he had cherished as his own, had betrayed not only Max but him as well. "Why didn't you call earlier? You know, I could have treated you here at your home if you didn't want to stay in the hospital." Adler returned his gaze to the doctor, his longtime friend."I hate hospitals," he paused, "Is my blood pressure stable now?" The man nodded, got up to pack his things into his briefcase by the bed, and then looked at Adler."You need to be very careful. You can't get upset or angry; it would raise your blood pressure.""Alright. Just give me the medication, and I'll b
Moments before...Max had gone out for a run to calm the anxiety that had been triggered by learning that Irina was pregnant. He had been on the verge of going to find Horacio and confront him, but now everything had changed. The temporary pain of what they had done, the trust they had both betrayed, would never be forgiven. The only thing keeping him sane were the memories of his recent experiences with Emma. Every detail of her was etched into his skin; there was something about her that had completely enchanted him. Not even Irina, who had been his first and only serious relationship, made him feel this way."It's not just carnal desire, it's something more, Max," he thought. How could it be possible to feel something so deep in such a short time of knowing each other? He kept running, distancing himself several kilometers from his apartment and the area where he usually jogged in the mornings. He crossed traffic lights, went through a couple of parks, and almost an hour passed bef
Moments before...Max had gone for a jog to calm the anxiety that had been triggered by the news of Irina's pregnancy. He had been tempted to go and confront Horacio, to give him a piece of his mind, but now everything had changed. The temporary pain of their betrayal still lingered, and he knew he could never forgive the breach of trust. The only thing that kept him sane was the memories of his recent experiences with Emma. Every detail of her was etched into his mind, and there was something about her that had completely enchanted him. Even Irina, his first and only serious relationship, hadn't made him feel this way."It's not just physical desire, it's something more, Max," he thought to himself. How could that be possible after such a short time of knowing each other? He continued jogging for several kilometers, completely distancing himself from his apartment and the usual jogging route he took in the mornings. He crossed traffic lights, passed through a couple of parks, and alm
The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the bedroom as Jack picked up the newspaper and began his routine—reading about the dollar and the euro, then the social section, before ending with the obituaries. Many of his friends had passed away in the last five years, and it was through this medium that he learned who had departed."Mr. Bradford," announced one of his trusted men, Mr. Min, his personal secretary. Jack looked up from the newspaper and met his gaze."Give me some good news, Min," Jack said. Mr. Min bowed out of courtesy."The DNA results have arrived," Mr. Min said. Jack's heart raced, but he tried not to get too excited."Good. Let's officially confirm what I already know..." Jack handed him a white envelope with the logo of his hospital, and Mr. Min opened it, reading the contents carefully until he reached the percentage: "99.97% highly probable paternity." Jack closed his eyes and smiled. "Of course she's my daughter." When he opened his eyes, he saw the excitement in
Emma was waiting in that expensive and famous restaurant on Fifth Avenue. It was located inside one of the most elegant buildings in the area and, of course, offered the best view of the city at night."Would you like something to drink, miss?" asked the waiter assigned to her table. Emma shook her head with a half-smile. "I'm fine, thank you," she replied. The waiter nodded politely and left, while Emma returned her gaze to the city, occasionally catching her reflection in the mirror. Classical music played softly in the background as the voices of other diners gradually faded away, unaware that the place had become completely empty."Good evening," a deep and somewhat familiar voice said. Emma furrowed her brow and turned her face towards the person who had just spoken, her eyebrows raised in surprise. Immediately, almost clumsily, she stood up and extended her hand to greet him."Good evening, Mr. Bradford. Have you come for dinner?" she asked, then realized that beyond him, the ta
Emma was left speechless when Elaine showed her what she would give to the man she was meeting in an hour. With the tips of her fingers, she gently caressed the surface. The diamond was truly beautiful, and when she looked up at her mother, Elaine smiled."How does it look?" she asked."How is it that you have a necklace with such a stunning and extravagant diamond? Are you sure the old lady gave it to you years ago?" Emma nodded."It was a gift she gave me," her expression changed. "Well, now I'll give it back to her, but she should remember that no one gives and then takes back, especially if it was a gift from..." Elaine stopped her sentence and pressed her lips together. "Well," she let out a scoff. "She'll give me the money, and I'll give you a million dollars for yourself.""I don't want money, Elaine," Emma said confidently. "I want you, if you manage to get the money, to start a new life far away, where you can find peace and stop getting yourself into trouble. That includes n
Max found the conversation among his father's guests trivial and uninteresting. He had no interest in talking about business or anything else. His gaze shifted to Irina's nearly empty glass of water, something he had never seen during a family dinner with her. He couldn't recall a single moment when there had been a glass of water next to her plate, not even when they were just friends."What's wrong?" Irina whispered to Max, nudging his arm slightly. He subtly averted his gaze from her glass to look at the other guests."Max?" she called, this time with a small touch on his arm. He looked at Irina."Yes?" Max replied, pretending he hadn't heard her first call."Why are you staring at my glass of water?" Max knew why she was asking."You know why," Max replied, looking at her. "Right?" She tensed up and averted her gaze."I must have a stomach virus, and I don't feel like having wine. But there's no need to worry," Irina said, her eyes fixed on him. "How have you been these past few d