“Are you ready?” Elo asked. He’s been watching Maxine from a few feet away, and he could not hide his fondness for the young woman.She was wearing an off-shoulder split tight sequined evening dress. Lucile chose gold ankle-strapped heels and a gold purse to complete the look.Lisa tied her hair into a fishtail and applied a thin layer of makeup on her face. According to the woman, Maxine has a natural beauty, so she doesn’t have to use too much makeup.After Lucile and Lisa helped her, Maxine came out of the room looking elegant and sophisticated. Elo couldn’t believe she was a murderer, as Sean would call her.“I’m nervous!” Maxine exclaimed as she took the arm Elo offered. They were on their way to Fairfax to open the first boutique of L’Amour.It’s been two weeks since all the preparations finished. And L’Amour was finally operational. Elo could not stop praising Maxine, as their first release was a great hit at the market.It was a limited edition diamond set with labradorite Bia
“Good morning, Miss Winther!”“Good morning, Sue!” she asked, pushing the door to her office and placing her bag on top of her desk.“There’s nothing more important than receiving flowers in the morning,” Ruby squealed. “Don’t ask from whom it was. It was still anonymous!”“I told you not to accept anything anonymous!”“But Miss Winther, it would be a waste if they end up in the trash. Can I keep it instead?”Maxine scowled at her assistant, but she nodded. She started receiving flowers from an anonymous sender after the opening of L’Amour in Fairfax. It has been two weeks.All of them would come with a card but not a name. It would only tell her to keep smiling as she was beautiful when she did.Unfortunately, she didn’t like it. It was not because she didn’t know who was sending the flowers. It was because her body reacted differently to them.She accepted the first one, thinking it was from Sean. As soon as she came in contact with it and its scent reached her nose, she started vom
“What does Maxine have to do with Rob Winford?” Sean roared as soon as he entered the office. Everyone was startled, and even the room reverberated.“What do you mean?” Elo asked, curious as to why his friend was fuming mad.“Winford came for her. How did they know each other?”“Didn’t you introduce her to him during the opening?”Sean shook his head, slapping the table and startling the assistants again. He looked at both women, asked them to leave, and sat on the couch in front of his friend. “Didn’t she tell you anything?”“No.”“First, it was Mendoza. Now, it’s Winford! What’s with the girl? What’s with these men? Are they blind?”Elo laughed. But when he saw Sean glaring at him, he straightened his face. “What is wrong with you?! You’re acting like a jealous teenager.”“You wish!”“Admit it, Sean Hartmann. You’ve fallen for the woman you used to call a stripper!”“There’s no way that would happen. Not in your wildest dream! I’d even bet Hartmann Group!”“Yeah, alright. Deny it al
As soon as Maxine stepped inside Sean’s office, the pungent smell of a woman’s perfume hit her nose. She wanted to throw up but held it in as she did not want to embarrass herself in front of the guest.“Sit down,” Sean ordered. Maxine and Elo sat on the couch by the wall. The woman in neon sat on the other couch in front of them. Then Sean sat on the single-seater in between. “This is Elo, my best friend. He’s the Executive Director for L’Amour,” Elo nodded at the woman, who in return smiled at him. Then Sean gestured to Maxine, “This is Maxine Winther, the Creative Director.”Elo looked at Sean. He could not believe Sean did not tell the woman that Maxine was his wife. Then again, when he looked at Maxine, she didn’t seem to care.But then the woman in front of them pulled down her glasses and looked closely, “Maxine? Maxine Winther?” she repeated.Maxine creased her forehead and nodded, but she was startled when the woman started screaming and jumping. Her overgrown boobs and thick
When Maxine stepped into her office, she felt peace. A lot had happened to her in a single day. One more, and she would burst into annoyance.But fate has its ways. Moreso if it was in the mood to upset you. So Maxine’s peace was disturbed when Sean and Ruth showed up.The woman was not content with just checking the area. She wanted to check every nook and cranny. So she opened the door to Maxine’s office.“Hi!” That annoying voice shot Maxine’s blood to her head, and she automatically scowled. “We just finished touring the building. We’re about to go out for dinner. Join us!” Ruth bragged, and Maxine felt offended.She glared at Sean, but the man looked away. “That’s nice. Enjoy! I’m not hungry. I can just eat at home.”Ruth smirked. Maxine was starting to annoy her with how she subtly turned her down. But she was happy when Sean didn’t introduce the woman as his wife.“Honey, we’re having dinner tonight, right?” Ruth asked, and like a robot, Sean nodded. “Let’s invite Elo and Maxin
After dinner, Rob volunteered to take Maxine home, but she refused. It was not because she didn’t want him to do it, but because she didn’t want him to find out she was living with Sean. Instead of Rob, it was Elo who brought her home.She headed straight to the kitchen to grab a drink. She didn’t know that a grim shadow followed her. After that, she headed to her room and coaxed herself to sleep.Not knowing how long it had been since she dozed off, Maxine heard movements outside her room. With just an eye open, she checked the phone gifted to her by Elo. It was 3 AM.Instead of going out to check, she pulled her blanket to her head and tried to resume her sleep. But she was startled when her door flew open, and the lights turned on.“You just got home?” Maxine asked. She was surprised to see Sean still wearing his suit in the wee hours. His tie was loose, and his hair was a mess. “Where have you been?” She asked again when he didn’t respond.To her surprise, Sean grabbed her arm and
Sean went straight to the parking lot after leaving the doctor’s office. He stopped next to a car, and without any warning, he punched it.“Hey! Calm down! What happened?” Elo asked. He and Martha looked anxious while waiting for Sean to come out.“She’s two months pregnant,” he announced.Elo smacked his forehead, and Martha gasped. They were both in a trance for several seconds. Not one of them could talk.Mustering courage, Martha asked, “How was her child?”Sean and Elo glared at her, but she had no intention of taking back her question. She was worried about Maxine, and not one of them could stop her from asking.“I don’t know yet,” Sean sighed. “They’re moving her to a private room.” Martha nodded, and Sean noticed that a tear escaped her eye. “Why?”“I’m just worried for her. Not one of us knew of her situation. I don’t think she even knew she was pregnant.”Elo looked up, his forehead creased. “How did you know?”“She hasn’t told me about it,” Sean chuckled at the absurdity of
“What are you saying?” Maxine was startled as Sean suddenly yelled at her. “Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten that you married me because you need to pay for your crime?”“Don’t yell! I’m not deaf! Besides, even if we’re divorced, I’d still work for L’Amour. You could still see me. You can still avenge your brother’s death all you want!”Sean’s face darkened. That was his plan, to divorce Maxine once he found Ruth. But her words roared like thunder, and he rattled.“There’s no way I’ll let that happen. Even if you die, there’s no way I’d divorce you!”Chills crept down Maxine’s spine. But it was not because of what he said, but because of how he said it. To her, it sounded like a threat.“Well, I was just making a suggestion. It doesn’t really matter to me whether we divorce or not. But it will surely be a problem for Ruth.”Sean was in a trance for a moment. He couldn’t help but think of what she said. However, for an unknown reason, he can’t seem to swallow it.“I’ll go o
“What are you saying?” Maxine was startled as Sean suddenly yelled at her. “Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten that you married me because you need to pay for your crime?”“Don’t yell! I’m not deaf! Besides, even if we’re divorced, I’d still work for L’Amour. You could still see me. You can still avenge your brother’s death all you want!”Sean’s face darkened. That was his plan, to divorce Maxine once he found Ruth. But her words roared like thunder, and he rattled.“There’s no way I’ll let that happen. Even if you die, there’s no way I’d divorce you!”Chills crept down Maxine’s spine. But it was not because of what he said, but because of how he said it. To her, it sounded like a threat.“Well, I was just making a suggestion. It doesn’t really matter to me whether we divorce or not. But it will surely be a problem for Ruth.”Sean was in a trance for a moment. He couldn’t help but think of what she said. However, for an unknown reason, he can’t seem to swallow it.“I’ll go o
Sean went straight to the parking lot after leaving the doctor’s office. He stopped next to a car, and without any warning, he punched it.“Hey! Calm down! What happened?” Elo asked. He and Martha looked anxious while waiting for Sean to come out.“She’s two months pregnant,” he announced.Elo smacked his forehead, and Martha gasped. They were both in a trance for several seconds. Not one of them could talk.Mustering courage, Martha asked, “How was her child?”Sean and Elo glared at her, but she had no intention of taking back her question. She was worried about Maxine, and not one of them could stop her from asking.“I don’t know yet,” Sean sighed. “They’re moving her to a private room.” Martha nodded, and Sean noticed that a tear escaped her eye. “Why?”“I’m just worried for her. Not one of us knew of her situation. I don’t think she even knew she was pregnant.”Elo looked up, his forehead creased. “How did you know?”“She hasn’t told me about it,” Sean chuckled at the absurdity of
After dinner, Rob volunteered to take Maxine home, but she refused. It was not because she didn’t want him to do it, but because she didn’t want him to find out she was living with Sean. Instead of Rob, it was Elo who brought her home.She headed straight to the kitchen to grab a drink. She didn’t know that a grim shadow followed her. After that, she headed to her room and coaxed herself to sleep.Not knowing how long it had been since she dozed off, Maxine heard movements outside her room. With just an eye open, she checked the phone gifted to her by Elo. It was 3 AM.Instead of going out to check, she pulled her blanket to her head and tried to resume her sleep. But she was startled when her door flew open, and the lights turned on.“You just got home?” Maxine asked. She was surprised to see Sean still wearing his suit in the wee hours. His tie was loose, and his hair was a mess. “Where have you been?” She asked again when he didn’t respond.To her surprise, Sean grabbed her arm and
When Maxine stepped into her office, she felt peace. A lot had happened to her in a single day. One more, and she would burst into annoyance.But fate has its ways. Moreso if it was in the mood to upset you. So Maxine’s peace was disturbed when Sean and Ruth showed up.The woman was not content with just checking the area. She wanted to check every nook and cranny. So she opened the door to Maxine’s office.“Hi!” That annoying voice shot Maxine’s blood to her head, and she automatically scowled. “We just finished touring the building. We’re about to go out for dinner. Join us!” Ruth bragged, and Maxine felt offended.She glared at Sean, but the man looked away. “That’s nice. Enjoy! I’m not hungry. I can just eat at home.”Ruth smirked. Maxine was starting to annoy her with how she subtly turned her down. But she was happy when Sean didn’t introduce the woman as his wife.“Honey, we’re having dinner tonight, right?” Ruth asked, and like a robot, Sean nodded. “Let’s invite Elo and Maxin
As soon as Maxine stepped inside Sean’s office, the pungent smell of a woman’s perfume hit her nose. She wanted to throw up but held it in as she did not want to embarrass herself in front of the guest.“Sit down,” Sean ordered. Maxine and Elo sat on the couch by the wall. The woman in neon sat on the other couch in front of them. Then Sean sat on the single-seater in between. “This is Elo, my best friend. He’s the Executive Director for L’Amour,” Elo nodded at the woman, who in return smiled at him. Then Sean gestured to Maxine, “This is Maxine Winther, the Creative Director.”Elo looked at Sean. He could not believe Sean did not tell the woman that Maxine was his wife. Then again, when he looked at Maxine, she didn’t seem to care.But then the woman in front of them pulled down her glasses and looked closely, “Maxine? Maxine Winther?” she repeated.Maxine creased her forehead and nodded, but she was startled when the woman started screaming and jumping. Her overgrown boobs and thick
“What does Maxine have to do with Rob Winford?” Sean roared as soon as he entered the office. Everyone was startled, and even the room reverberated.“What do you mean?” Elo asked, curious as to why his friend was fuming mad.“Winford came for her. How did they know each other?”“Didn’t you introduce her to him during the opening?”Sean shook his head, slapping the table and startling the assistants again. He looked at both women, asked them to leave, and sat on the couch in front of his friend. “Didn’t she tell you anything?”“No.”“First, it was Mendoza. Now, it’s Winford! What’s with the girl? What’s with these men? Are they blind?”Elo laughed. But when he saw Sean glaring at him, he straightened his face. “What is wrong with you?! You’re acting like a jealous teenager.”“You wish!”“Admit it, Sean Hartmann. You’ve fallen for the woman you used to call a stripper!”“There’s no way that would happen. Not in your wildest dream! I’d even bet Hartmann Group!”“Yeah, alright. Deny it al
“Good morning, Miss Winther!”“Good morning, Sue!” she asked, pushing the door to her office and placing her bag on top of her desk.“There’s nothing more important than receiving flowers in the morning,” Ruby squealed. “Don’t ask from whom it was. It was still anonymous!”“I told you not to accept anything anonymous!”“But Miss Winther, it would be a waste if they end up in the trash. Can I keep it instead?”Maxine scowled at her assistant, but she nodded. She started receiving flowers from an anonymous sender after the opening of L’Amour in Fairfax. It has been two weeks.All of them would come with a card but not a name. It would only tell her to keep smiling as she was beautiful when she did.Unfortunately, she didn’t like it. It was not because she didn’t know who was sending the flowers. It was because her body reacted differently to them.She accepted the first one, thinking it was from Sean. As soon as she came in contact with it and its scent reached her nose, she started vom
“Are you ready?” Elo asked. He’s been watching Maxine from a few feet away, and he could not hide his fondness for the young woman.She was wearing an off-shoulder split tight sequined evening dress. Lucile chose gold ankle-strapped heels and a gold purse to complete the look.Lisa tied her hair into a fishtail and applied a thin layer of makeup on her face. According to the woman, Maxine has a natural beauty, so she doesn’t have to use too much makeup.After Lucile and Lisa helped her, Maxine came out of the room looking elegant and sophisticated. Elo couldn’t believe she was a murderer, as Sean would call her.“I’m nervous!” Maxine exclaimed as she took the arm Elo offered. They were on their way to Fairfax to open the first boutique of L’Amour.It’s been two weeks since all the preparations finished. And L’Amour was finally operational. Elo could not stop praising Maxine, as their first release was a great hit at the market.It was a limited edition diamond set with labradorite Bia
When Sean arrived at the villa, he headed straight to the dining room. He was expecting to see Maxine, but he only saw Martha and Lisa. “Where is she?”“She hasn’t returned yet,” Martha responded.Sean nodded at the old woman and excused himself, “Call me in my room when she arrives, and move her things to the guest room.”“Okay,” Martha then exchanged glances with Lisa when Sean left. “What is going on?” she asked, but Lisa did not know what to tell her, so she just shrugged. “Prepare the guest room. Make sure it’s comfortable. I’m sure she’s tired.”Martha was like a proud mother. She was the same for Sean but more for Maxine. She was aware of the pain the woman Maxine was going through, so she wanted to be there for her in everything.Meanwhile, in the master’s bedroom, Sean could not stop thinking about what Elo had told him. ‘Is it possible that I’m starting to develop feelings for her? That can’t be! She’s a murderer and a stripper!’He did not stop thinking about it until he fe