Somewhere In Between (18+)✔️

04| Not a date.

"Pops, you didn't have to make an appointment with Anna to see me" Max called to the man who was already beaming at him from where he sat at the back of the restaurant. Heads turned at the sudden noise, but Maxwell carried on, pulling out a chair. It made a screeching sound as he dragged it, causing a few people to frown at him.

"You could have just raised the chair and pulled it out, Max" Aldo Tanner frowned, his brows drawing together and showing off the glabellar lines etched in his forehead. Max almost reached out to smoothen them but pulled his hands into his pocket.

"What would be the fun in that, old man?" he laughed. "I see you decided to rock the salt and pepper look, eh?"

"Chicks are digging it recently. Anna even complimented me."

"Haha. Very funny. I have to be somewhere soon and as much as I love seeing you, it's kinda important." Max pushed the menu away. He wouldn't be here long enough to eat anything, anyway.

"I just wanted to have lunch" Aldo smiled, reaching out to ruffle his youngest son's hair. Max pulled back at the last minute, leaving the man's hand hanging.

"You don't have to look so perfect all the time."

"Don't start, pops." He stared at his watch, frowning. "it's not even noon. I haven't had breakfast yet, so it's a little too early for lunch."

"Whatever. Just eat whatever I order or don't." Aldo dropped his hand on the table, staring down at the filigree-themed menu.

"I have to go pops" Max insisted.

The older man waved a brown envelope that he hadn't noticed upon entry.

"already signed. I just have to submit it to the board and you'll be the owner of Tanner Investments," the man threatened.

"The deal is I don't get to run it till after five years, as long as you don't die before then that is" he squeezed his fingers into fists on his lap, away from his father's inquisitive eyes.

"Let's have lunch, son."

"One day you'll threaten me with that and I'll say fuck it" he straightened his fingers, flattening them as his father pressed the call button in the middle of the table.

"You say fuck it and then run the company" Aldo grinned.

🌺🌸🌺

The bell above the door jingled and Cadee looked away from the teenage girl who was frowning at the bouquet she had just tied. She turned to look at the newcomer, immediately going still at the sight of the tall man. She couldn't explain how, but she knew this was not the man that had left the shop hours ago. This man walked like he owned the world; it showed in the way he carried himself, his shoulders back, his long legs eating up the space in front of him with the brisk pace he set as he strutted in. His hair was styled, not a strand out of place, just like it had been yesterday before she dragged her fingers through it.

He was standing in front of her in a few seconds, way too close for comfort. She took a step back, her back immediately hitting the counter behind her. The man smiled at her, one not two dimples flashing. His dark eyes glinted in amusement.

"I don't think pink is the look I'm going for, ma'am" the girl sighed, pulling Cadee's attention back to her customer. "My friends said you made the most perfect bouquets, I don't see what's special about this arrangement."

She chose not to mention that the girl had not given her any details, only saying;

"make me something pretty." She smiled at the girl instead.