Maxine didn’t care. In this world, every action would leave its mark..

    While Maxine had a private investigator monitoring the Jenson family’spany, she was days into the job, Sebastian actually tracked her down at the office.

    also filling in at Urban’sw firm. To her surpriseb, /bjust a few

    He never stepped inside, just waited at the door. Each time he came, he’d bring treats from the nearby mall to share with everyone in the office.

    He didn’t care if Maxine wanted to talk to him, acting like he knew she’d give in eventually, always using Brian as his excuse.

    And just as he had hoped, Maxine would asionally go home with him.

    Over time, they no longer felt as unfamiliar or distant with each other as they once had.

    After everyone had wrapped up their cases, the managing partner organized a dinner gathering and invited the whole team to join.

    A few of the more lively girls ordered a pitcher of beer. As the drinks started flowing, Maxine’s closest friend slung an arm around her shoulders and teased, “Come on, Maxine, Mr. Mason clearly adores you. Why not just give in already?”

    They were all recent college grads who had joined the firm in the past couple of years and knew little about Maxine’s past. The senior staff kept tight- lipped about it, so they simply assumed Sebastian was just another one of Maxine’s suitors.

    Maxine shot her a look, grabbed a grilled cheese sandwich from the te, and stuffed it into her mouth. “Mind your own business and eat your food.”

    The group burst intoughter. Maxine poured herself a shot and knocked it back in one go.

    As the dinner was winding down, Maxine’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw a message from Sebastian. [At yourw firm’s entrance. Security said you’re all out this afternoon. Team dinner? Let me pick you up.]

    Maxine was about to lock her phone when the slightly tipsy girl next to her leaned in, grinning mischievously. “Well? Was that Seb texting byou/bb?/b”

    As she spoke, she’d already caught a glimpse of the phone screen and shed Maxine a knowing grin. “I see how it is! Just let Seb pick you up, maybe bwe /bcan tag along for the ride too!”

    Hearing this, the others joined in the teasing.

    After a round of drinks with her colleagues, Maxine was feeling pleasantly buzzed. For some reason, she stared at her phone screen for a long moment before, almost as if in a trance, sending Sebastian her current location.

    Before long, a luxury car pulled iinto /ithe parking spot outside the shop. The firm’s newest recruit took a huge gulp of his drink, and when he spotted bthe /bcar, he nearly spat it out, stammering, “Rolls…”

    The managing partner scratched his head in confusion and joked, “Is your mom here to pick you up in a Maybach or something?”

    The rookie nearly choked on his drink, then stammered, “Rolls–Royce!”

    Everyone turned to look outside. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Sebastian emerged from the passenger side of the car, peered inside the restaurant for a moment, and then waited by the car.

    A

    Everyone watched as he lowered his head to take out his phone, and right on cue, Maxine’s phone, lying beside her, bu

    He texted: [I’m outside. Text me when you’re done, and I’lle pick you up.]

    Maxine’s friend practically squealed, shaking her arm and hissing in excitement, “Maxine, you never told us Seb was this bloaded/bb!/bb” /b

    Maxine rolled her eyes. “Seriously? I figured you guys already knew.”

    She thought, ‘Some of them have even marveled before at how he never brought the sante snacks twice, so how could thing be this shag kan den

    The girl mumbled in a daze, “I thought Seb just made good money… Never imagined he’d be the one signing the paychecks.

    bAD /b