Long Lost Love

Angie looked at Maxime. They sat facing each other. Honestly, Angie had been waiting for this for a long time. She needed information. It had been a long time since she had followed Maxime to get information about the Wolf Gang, but instead of information she had gotten dangerous incidents.

"Max, you said we should work together, but so far I haven't felt the cooperation you meant?"

Angie looked at Maxime. She was staying at his house for now. Maxime said that once Angie was involved with the Wolf Gang men, she would be hunted forever.

"I'm thinking of canceling our deal," he said.

Angie's eyes widened. "What? What do you mean, don't decide so unilaterally!"

Maxime looked at Angie. The woman's face was full of anger. Just a short time ago, she almost died because she was trapped together with the Wolf Gang men, and now Angie still wanted to find information about the organization?

"I am not. I'm just thinking about your safety."

Angie chuckled. "No need. I can take care of myself!"

"Oh, really? I see you were about to die."

Angie choked up. Why had it come to this? She was getting involved in dangerous things for a reason. If Maxime planned to end their cooperation, then all of Angie's efforts would have been in vain.

Angie immediately shook her head. "No, I don't. In any case, I don't want our cooperation to be terminated. You can't just decide as you please."

"Are you sure?"

Angie nodded.

Maxime took a long breath. "Okay then." The man suddenly stood and approached Angie. The look in his eyes was sharp and intimidating, making Angie reflexively hold her own breath. Her heart suddenly stopped beating.

"Wh-What?"

Maxime grabbed Angie's face. Their faces were so close that they could both feel each other's breath.

Maxime continued to erode the distance between their faces. The tip of Maxime's nose even rubbed against the tip of Angie's nose. For a moment, Angie thought he was going to kiss her, and she reflexively closed her eyes. But he did not. Maxime pressed his lips against Angie's left ear.

Maxime's breath hitting her earlobe sent shivers down Angie's spine.

"They will haunt you for the rest of your life."

Angie got goosebumps. Maxime pulled his face back. It was the same as what Maxime had said before, but somehow it felt more terrifying this time. Angie was also confused. She was used to playing with her own life. But Maxime's warning seemed to bring out her deepest fear.

Angie laughed blandly, as if trying to hide her own worries. "What the hell? I'm used to dying for the news I write. As long as it's interesting and factual, I'll keep at it."

Maxime nodded. "Fine, then. The important thing is that I warned you."

Angie looked back at Maxime. Until this moment, she still could not read Maxime's expression. It seemed that there was never any significant change in the man's expression.

"What?" Maxime asked.

Angie shook her head and looked away. "It's nothing."

"What else do you want to ask me? You said you wanted to interview me?"

Angie nodded. "Yes, but I'm not sure you'll answer honestly."

"Huh? Why?"

Angie shrugged. "Well... you always seem so flat and expressionless. I can't tell if your answers are honest or not."

Maxime laughed at Angie's words, and to be honest, it was probably the first time Angie had ever seen and heard him laugh. For a moment, Angie's eyes were fixed on the man's face. His wrinkled eye line, the corners of his lips, and also his neat row of teeth. For some reason, Angie found them attractive.

"Max, have you ever had a lover?"

Maxime turned his head immediately. "Huh?"

Angie realized that her question was far from the news she wanted. She also had no idea why such a question had slipped out of her mouth. It was embarrassing, but it was too late to regret it.

"Why are you asking that?"

Angie tried to keep her expression as casual as possible. The lighting in Maxime's house was very dim, and she hoped that Maxime would not see her face, which was probably flushed with embarrassment.

"Nothing, just curious."

"Is that part of your interview, too?"

Angie smiled slightly. "Maybe."

Maxime sighed. "Yeah, once."

"Why did you break up?"

"I never thought we broke up, but yeah... maybe you're right, we did."

Angie became interested. It was unusual to hear someone like Maxime Seagrave talk about love.

"Why? I mean, where is it?"

"I don't know."

Angie was surprised at Maxime's answer.

"What do you mean, you don't know? You said you never broke up."

Maxime took a long breath for the umpteenth time. "What I mean is, we never decided it was over, but she's long gone. Ha... I don't even know if she's alive or dead."

Angie's eyes widened in shock. "What? How is that possible?"

On closer inspection, Maxime might have seemed quite relaxed while talking about his failed love story. Or maybe he was used to hiding his feelings to keep his expression even? Sometimes Angie would like to pull Maxime's cheeks and force him to smile, to keep his facial muscles from stiffening.

Maxime looked at Angie, and the woman's face really looked very interested in Maxime's love story. Seeing that expression somehow made Maxime want to laugh. Luckily, he was able to hold it in.

Maxime approached Angie and suddenly pushed her shoulder to lie down on the bed. Angie was confused and shocked.

"Wait, wait, what are you doing?"

"You're going to sleep."

Angie's eyebrows shot up. She definitely did not accept being told to sleep like that.

"What? No! I want to hear the rest of your love story!"

"It's not important, and it has nothing to do with the news you're looking for."

"But it's fun!"

Maxime raised an eyebrow at Angie's comment. "What? You enjoy the drama of other people's lives?"

"It's not like that! I just... just... ah! Anyway, I want to hear the rest of the story!"

"No, you don't. Go to bed."

Maxime left his room, leaving Angie to curse herself for being left like that.

After closing the door, Maxime fell silent as he leaned his back against the closed door.

"Love, huh? Ha, I guess I'm really not in a good mood to talk about it." Maxime thought to himself.

He quickly stepped out of his own room and left Angie to rest.

Maxime lay down on the hard sofa. His back was uncomfortable. It had been a long time since he had welcomed someone into his cramped house. When was the last time he welcomed someone into his home?

The image of someone's face suddenly came to mind. Maxime snorted in annoyance. "Fuck! I shouldn't have talked to Angie about this."

Maxime sighed quietly. It was not like him to be like this. Maxime was used to putting his emotions aside, so he should not have to think too deeply.

Yes, he should not.

***