Reputation to keep

tears fall

Max's POV

I called Angel twice more that afternoon, but she didn't pick up once. I started to worry and peeked over at her room, to find the blinds still closed. I made up my mind to go over there and check on her, knowing that she would have taken her phone with her if she had gone out and so she would be home to answer the door. I walked out, locking the house behind me and starting up the drive to Angels. I stood outside the door and buzzed the bell, waiting for an answer. When none came, my worry level increased to the point where I figured breaking and entering would be a better alternative to waiting. All the business with Marcus had me paranoid and I couldn't risk Angel getting hurt because of it. I walked round the house, trying the windows until I found one slightly open. I pushed it higher and hoisted myself through, tumbling down and landing on the floor with a dull thud. I sat for a moment, half expecting Marcus or one of his faceless cronies to jump out and shout boo, pointing a gun at my head. I crept up the stairs, flinching at the creaks as I went. I finally reached the third floor and inched up to Angels door. I opened it slowly, checking there was nothing dangerous, and sighed in relief when I spotted her slumped at the end of her bed in a fancy chaise, sleeping. I crept up to her slowly and bent down, pressing my lips to hers to wake her.

Angels POV

Something warm touched my lips and I fluttered my eyes open, finding Max standing over me and kissing me gently. My head was still heavy with sleep but I felt myself being lifted and placed down on my soft bed. I pulled Max down with me, snuggling up to his warmth. A few tears slipped down my face, remembering when Gina used to cuddle me when I was little and had nightmares. Back then she had been my nanny as well as a waitress for my father. Max pulled back to look at my face and raised his eyebrows questioningly, I just shook my head and pulled him back to me. He must have understood that I wasn't ready to talk because he allowed me to rest my head back on his chest and drift back off to sleep.

***

It was six pm when I was gently brought back to consciousness. I looked up at Max as he pulled me out of bed.

'What are you doing?' I asked

'It's almost dinner time, we need to get something organised. Help are here on Saturdays right? Maybe Gina can help us'

I broke down into tears and Max immediately bent down to my level, confused as to why I was upset.

'What is it? What's wrong? Did I say something?'

I managed a small laughed at that last part, typical boys, that always seems to be the way for them to find out if they did something wrong.

'No, it wasn't you. Well sort of, G- Gina's d-... Not here' I sniffled, stumbling on the word "dead" it just seemed too final

Max looked mortified and upset at the same time. Mortified most likely because he brought it up, and upset- well who wouldn't be!

'I'm so sorry Angel. I know she meant the world to you' he pulled me into a soft hug to try and calm me down, wiping away my tears. 'Come on, lets get you something to eat'

Max pulled me to the lift and pressed for the kitchen. When the lift jolted to a stop, I didn't move but Max just picked me up and carried me to a chair. He walked through to the kitchen area and I vaguely heard a couple of cupboards and draws opening and closing and the sound of pots clanging.

I don't know how much time passed but when Max came out, the aroma from whatever he had cooked made my mouth water and I looked up in surprise

'you can cook?' 

Max looked back at me, equally surprised.

'You didn't know? Well I did change my surname when I moved...' he trailed off, brooding.

'You changed your surname? What from?' 

'Valentino' 

'Wait, Valentino? As in Jacob Valentino the famous cook? But that'd mean you were...' Now it was my turn to trail off, confused and unable to process fully the conclusion I just drew

'It would mean I was...' Max inquired, pulling me from my thoughts

'That you're richer than me. So why do you live how you do? On your own in that house?'

Max's POV 

'So why do you live how you do? On your own in that house?' Angel looked at me questioningly and I sighed, she wasn't ready to know yet and I certainly didn't want to put her in danger of Marcus. I was going to have to lie.

'I got bored of always being known as the famous face. I wanted to know what it was like to be normal, it's still not as though I live in poverty'

'huh' came the reply and I worried that  my distraction might soon be failing so I scrambled for another subject

'Have some of the food and tell me what you think, I need the feedback' 

I placed the bowl in front of her 

'it's carbonara'

She took up a spoonful and blew on it before tentatively moving it towards her mouth. Her eyes widened as she processed the flavours and textures

'this is fucking good! We should definitely show Gina-'

I swore inwardly, of course Gina had to be a waiter with a passion for food.

__________________________________

A really big apology to anyone who reads my book because this chapter is short and I haven't uploaded for ages. I had school camp last week so I wasn't able to upload and schools been hectic since I got back

Don't hate me too much, we all go through busy spots in our lives

Love you all anyway for reading this

Ruby xoxo:)