MAXIMILIAN'S POVI delicately maneuvered the razor over my stubbly face. I had to make myself look presentable, knowing my mother didn't like when I wore a shadow beard. I took a deep breath, shook the excessive shaving cream from the blade, and then asked Paxton to repeat himself. "Married? I don't think I heard you right," I adjusted the EarPod in my ear. "Brenda and I got married last night, and I'm hoping I have your blessings."He definitely had my support, but did he really believe Brenda was the right girl for him? Yes, she was the first and only woman to turn him down, but that didn't mean he had to take on the challenge of closing such a substantial deal by marrying her. "Are you happy?" I asked him. With enthusiasm, he declared, “I have never been this happy in my life.”My heart softened. I was just relieved to know that this wasn’t a whim and that my best friend was contented and happy. "That's what I like to hear. Then of course you have my blessings," I told him. "G
MAXIMILIAN'S POVI stood there staring at her while she looked at me with a sly smile. She had a bag pack slung over one shoulder. She opened her mouth to answer me but was interrupted when Meredith strolled past me and up to her. "Blake," Meredith called her name. "What are you doing here?""It's a long story," Blake answered. "But I can tell you guys when we're on the plane.""Wait! You're coming with us?" Meredith squealed. "Yes, I am."I grunted, she must be the daughter of my father's business associate. Why did it have to be her? Life was fucked up sometimes. "Let's go then, we're running a little behind," I groaned. I headed on the craft, gritting my teeth and clenching my fists. This was gonna be the longest six hours of my life.******An hour in, Blake and Meredith couldn't stop talking. It was like they'd known each other forever. I felt awkward like I was the third wheel, and I didn't like feeling that way. This was my jet. They were my guests, and I'd be damned if I wa
MEREDITH'S POVTrees and deserted roads whisked by as the limousine drove us to the McTavish mansion. I was nervous to say the least and neither Blake nor Max uttered a peep for the forty-five minutes it took us to arrive at the house. My first glimpse of the estate came into view as the limo crested the hill of a sloping road. I wasn't prepared for what would happen next. A horde of people stood by, barring the view of the gated walls. "For fuck's sake. What's this?" Max finally spoke. He grabbed his cell phone and made a call. "Hello, Arnold, it's Maximilian. I've arrived, and the limo is being blocked off by a sea of paparazzi. What are they doing here?"I didn't know the phone was on speaker until I heard the heavy bass of Arnold's voice coming through the phone. "Mr. Max, I'm afraid they are waiting for you. Word got out that you are seeing someone new, so they're here to get a glimpse of your lady friend."Shit! All of this for me? I wasn't one for the limelight. The limo bum
MEREDITH'S POV Max’s kiss left my lips tingling as we were ushered on the property. The sound of the roaring crowd of paparazzi faded as we moved forward. I gazed up at the mansion with fascination. It was a modern-looking building painted in pearl white, which caused the building to glow in the sunlight. It took us fifteen minutes to walk the driveway and reach the house. The cobbled walkway was painted in yellow with pink and white roses lining the edges. My eyes couldn't figure out what was making the windows glisten like that. Diamonds, maybe? My views then moved to the brass-studded door, and written above it in gold and gems were the words; MCTAVISH ESTATES, in bold letters. As we walked up the stone-flagged path to that huge front door, I noticed Blake watching me. "You and Max, huh?" She mouthed, falling into step with me. She took my hand as we strolled along behind Max. Blake had a good few inches on me, so I had to tilt my head to look up at her. She was ver
MAXIMILIAN'S POVI was tired, and I just wanted to get this weekend over with and done. I strolled around the back where the pool was and saw mom and dad lounging. My dad noticed me first. He greeted me with a beaming smile as he stood up for a hug. "Look who's here," he said, squeezing my shoulders tightly."It's good to see you, dad." I returned his enthusiasm. I was truly happy to see him. "Oh Max! Max, my baby!" Mother got excited. She practically pushed dad aside so she could get her hug. "Oh I missed you so much," she sniffled, squeezing me so hard I thought my lungs would collapse. "Come now, woman. This is a reunion, not a funeral, so there will be no crying," dad chuckled. "Shut up, you old fart," Mom scolded him, pulling away from me so she could slap him with her sombrero. "Come here, and I'll show you who's an old fart," dad grinned, grabbing mom by her wrist and pulling her into his chest. He sniffed her hair before he began kissing her neck. It was too early for thi
MEREDITH'S POV"Wait, you're actually going to be sleeping in the same bed as him?" Brenda cried out over the phone. I was in such a rush to get dressed I didn't have time to dry my hair, so all I did was combed it out and put it up in a neat bun. I just couldn't face Max after he mentioned to me about our sleeping arrangements. I ran out of that bedroom faster than a cheetah on steroids before he got out of the shower."Yes, Bren. He said he asked the housemaid to put our things in the same room," I sighed. Then I wondered why someone else brought our things up and not the maid. Anyway, I shook that part out of my mind. "What am I gonna do? I can't sleep with him." I fretted, strolling away from the chaos of the mansion, trying to get to somewhere more quiet. My feet mindlessly led me off the main floor. "Too late for that," Brenda giggled. I rolled my eyes. "This is not funny," I scoffed, roaming the corridors of this gigantic mansion. "If you keep laughing, I won't show you this
MEREDITH'S POV"I didn't mean to. I got lost and was just trying to navigate my way back to the dining hall," I hissed, as his fingers pinched at my flesh. "What did you see? Better yet, what did you hear?" He demanded answers. I swallowed, blinking back the tears in my eyes. That scene from Twilight flashed inside my head when Laurent caught Bella alone walking in the woods and an apparition of Edward appeared before her eyes, warning her of danger. A voice in the back of my head whispered. 'Lie to him.'Trying to keep myself calm and not run off screaming bloody murder, I opened my mouth to speak. "I saw you talking with that maid, but I didn't hear much of what you were saying." My speech came out sounding fumbled. Even I didn't believe my own words. He stared at me through slits, clenching his jaws while his grip tightened around my arm. 'Lie better,' the voice barked in my head. I released a goofy laugh, acting as if his grip on me didn't bother me. "You don't know how hap
MAXIMILIAN'S POV"Meredith, I see you've met the family dog," I clenched my jaw as I spoke. Meredith gasped and I realized she could feel the tension between us, but I wasn't prepared to explain why I was so angry with my younger brother. "Ah, big brother, I was just talking about you with your — lady friend.""She's my girlfriend, and I'd appreciate it if you stayed away from both of us for the rest of our stay here," I told him. He always did this even as a child. He only wanted something only if he knew I had already possessed it. That sadistic smile of his was making me uneasy. I had no intention of talking to him this weekend. My plan was to ignore him like he was invisible, or he didn't exist. But seeing him engaging with Meredith, I had tell him to back off. I didn't care if he was blood. I would break his arm this time if he touched what was mine. "Why? We got along so well when we were alone in the East Wing. Didn't we, sweetheart?" Asher winked at Meredith and I tightened