It felt good to stop fighting, good to let herself justbenear him without the weight of denial crushing her.And yet, the thought of him watching her—seeing her in those private moments—left her cheeks burning.This wasn’t just anyone.This wasMax.
Her appetite vanished under the tangled swirl of emotions.“I’m not hungry,” she murmured, dropping her gaze to the table, unable to meet his gaze for long.
“You should eat something,” he countered, his tone firm but with a thread of care that sent her spiraling further.“You’re going to need your energy.”
Her head shot up, and she saw the faintest glimmer of amusement flicker cross his face.Why would she need energy?The question hovered on her lips, but she wasn’t brave enough to voice it.Instead, she found herself caught again by his gaze, the curve of his lips subtle but undeniably confident.It wasn’t a grin, but it might as well have been.That look alone left her breathless.
The air between them felt thick, charged with a tension she didn’t know how to break.And maybe she didn’t want to.That realization both unsettled and emboldened her, pushing her to speak before she could overthink it.
“You solved my problem,” she said, her voice trembling slightly as she repeated his earlier words.She swallowed, forcing herself to keep going.“What is that going to cost me?”
Max set his coffee cup down with deliberate care, the soft clink of porcelain against the saucer somehow echoing louder in her ears than it should have.His movements were so calm, so measured, and yet they carried a weight that made her heart race.
“Nothing you can’t afford, Lexie,” he replied smoothly, his tone carrying layers of meaning she couldn’t quite decipher.
She swallowed hard, her pulse fluttering as his words sank in.He hadn’t said it outright, but there was something about the way he spoke, the way his eyes never left hers, that made it clear he wasn’t just talking about money—or anything so mundane.
Her stomach fluttered and it wasn’t fear or embarrassment this time.It was that strange, undeniable pull she always felt around him, the one she’d spent a year trying—and failing—to forget.And for the first time in far too long, she let herself wonder what it would feel like to stop fighting it entirely.
Before she could press him further, another servant appeared, stepping silently into the tension-filled space.With a practiced grace, the woman placed a bowl of yogurt, granola, and fresh berries in front of Lexie before retreating without a word.
Lexie blinked in surprise, her eyes dropping to the dish.It wasexactlywhat she liked best for breakfast.She stared at it for a long moment, her confusion mounting.How did Max know?She didn’t remember ever telling him.Had it come up when they were together before?Or had he somehow figured it out?The realization sent a shiver down her spine.
Her stomach betrayed her with a loud rumble, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since yesterday afternoon.Hunger gnawed at her, but she hesitated, her hands curling into her lap as conflicting emotions swirled through her.
The sight of the food should have comforted her, but her thoughts veered in another direction.If Max could anticipate something as personal as her breakfast preferences, what else had he deduced about her?How much of her had he unraveled in the time they’d been apart?
Her gaze faltered as her thoughts shifted to Enzo.She forced herself to face the disturbing reality: Enzo had watched those videos.His lecherous grin, the way he had casually wielded those intimate moments like weapons, made her feel violated.She could still hear his slimy voice taunting her with what he had.
The bile rose in her throat, but then her eyes returned to Max.The contrast between them was sharp, almost jarring.Enzo’s intentions had been vile, predatory.But Max… Max was something entirely different.
That thought did little to calm her racing heart.If anything, it made her feel even more vulnerable.Max’s gaze was steady, unwavering as he watched her.It was as though he saw everything—her fear, her shame, her confusion—and was waiting for her to surrender to him completely.
“Eat, Lexie,” Max urged gently, his deep voice cutting through her spiraling thoughts.The quiet command in his tone was impossible to ignore.He took another sip of his coffee, as composed as ever, but his words carried weight.“I assure you, Enzo will never bother you again.”
Her breath caught in her throat, the promise in his statement offering a fleeting sense of relief.But it wasn’t enough.“And the videos?”she asked softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.Her eyes darted to the phone sitting by his plate, dread and hope warring within her.
Max’s gaze followed hers, dropping to the phone.For a moment, the space seemed to hold its breath.When he looked back at her, the air between them shifted, thickened.
“They are safe with me now,” he said.
The weight of his statement settled heavily between them.She wanted to feel reassured, but the way he saidsafe—the way his eyes lingered on her—made her stomach flip.There was more to his words, something unspoken but undeniable.
Lexie’s instincts screamed that Max wouldn’t hurt her, that he wouldn’t jeopardize her life or her career.But there was a possessiveness in his tone, in his very presence, that left her uneasy.The man sitting across from her wasn’t just protecting her.He was taking control in ways she hadn’t anticipated.
Her appetite stirred faintly, but she didn’t reach for the spoon.Instead, she found herself staring at Max, her thoughts a tangled mess.She had come to him for help, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had given up far more than she’d realized.How much of herself had she surrendered the moment she’d walked through his door?And, more disturbingly, why did a part of her feel relieved to let him take the reins?
Her lips parted, but no words came.Instead, she picked up the spoon, her movements slow and deliberate as she forced herself to eat.One bite at a time, she told herself, even as her pulse raced and her mind spun.One step at a time.
Max set his cup down as a servant appeared, placing a steaming dish in front of him.To Lexie, it looked like a colorful medley of vegetables—far too healthy for her taste.She glanced at her own plate and decided the vibrant berries and creamy yogurt were far more appealing.Her stomach growled in agreement, protesting having skipped dinner last night.She took a bite, savoring the sweetness, and let the food settle her nerves.
As she ate, Max leaned back slightly, his dark eyes watching her intently.The casual breakfast ambiance didn’t last long—he wasted no time diving into his interrogation.
“What have you been doing over the past year?”he asked, calm but probing.
Lexie shrugged, keeping her tone light as she answered.“New students.New year.Same challenges.”
His gaze didn’t waver.“Did you date anyone new?”
