My hardcore Boss

Chapter 4. Meeting. part 5

I drag Max behind a column, hoping not to be seen. He looks at me, a mixture of surprise and confusion in his eyes.

"Elena? I... I don't know who invited her." His expression shifts to one of concern. "Is something wrong?"

I feel my cheeks heat up as I look away, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I... lied when I said nothing had happened with her." The words come out in a rush, and I can barely meet his gaze. "She insinuated that I... that we..." My voice trails off, too embarrassed to say it out loud. "She said there are... rumors in the company. Because of the clothes you bought me."

Max's face softens, his brows knitting together in sympathy. "Oh, I see. I'm sorry, Cyntia." He glances out from behind the column, scanning the crowd. "Let's see who she's with..."

He peeks out, but quickly pulls back, his face going pale.

"Oh, God." He looks at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and... something else.

"What's wrong?" I ask, alarmed.

"Ah, haha..." He laughs nervously, a sound that's all too forced. "Well, she's with... let's just say, an old employer. From a... job I'm not very proud of." He swallows, his gaze flicking to the ground. "I've changed my life since then, and I'd rather not cross paths with him. Our... relationship isn't exactly friendly."

His nervous laughter is unsettling. I've never seen him like this. Instinctively, I reach out, resting a hand on his arm. We're pressed close behind the column, and his hands slide to my waist, steadying us both. For a second, I forget everything else as I look into his eyes, searching for the right words.

"What do we do?" I ask, catching sight of people glancing our way. "They're staring. If we keep hiding here, we're only going to attract more attention." I try to think, glancing down the hall. "Let's keep walking along the corridor, at a safe distance. Maybe we can find somewhere else to slip away."

Max nods, his hand still holding mine as we edge along the wall, weaving behind columns. I turn my head to check if anyone is watching, but thankfully, all eyes are on Elena in her red stilettos and designer dress. I let out a sigh of relief. At least she's useful for something.

I look back at Max, and our eyes meet for a heartbeat. My heart skips. I wasn't expecting that.

"Where are we going?" he whispers, glancing around nervously. "All the room doors are locked, and soon we'll run out of columns. There's no way out! There are journalists getting closer to Elena, and if they see us..."

Suddenly, I spot a door with a Do Not Enter sign.

"The linen closet!" I whisper, a spark of desperation in my voice. "It might be open."

Without waiting for his response, I pull him toward it. The door gives way, and I shove him inside, slipping in after him and shutting the door quietly. I lean against it, sliding down with a long sigh of relief.

The closet is cramped, filled with the strong smell of bleach. Shelves of neatly stacked linens line the walls, and there's barely enough space for the two of us. I glance up at Max, a half-smile creeping onto my face.

"I certainly didn't expect to end up in here when you invited me to the gala," I say, trying to lighten the mood.

Max lets out a weary chuckle, looking at the floor. "Believe me, this wasn't in the plans." He pauses, his expression darkening. "And now you're probably wondering what on earth is going on."

"Not to pry, but..." I hesitate, then take a breath. "How serious would it be if he saw you?"

Max's shoulders slump, and he leans back against the wall. "Cyntia, this has to stay between us. I'm forced to tell you, given the situation..." He trails off, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his jacket. "When I was young, I had to leave home. My parents were... very traditional, let's say. Their beliefs were trapped in the Stone Age. I felt like I was in a cage."

He pauses, searching my face as if bracing himself for judgment.

"I ran away and... I ended up working in the adult film industry. It was a way to rebel, to survive, and to spite my parents, all at once. I met the man with Elena back then, and... let's just say, if any of those films came out, it would ruin my career." He lets out a shaky breath. "I changed my name, started over, did everything I could to leave that world behind. But seeing him here..." He trails off, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drag you into this."

There's a heavy silence as I process his words. I'm surprised by how much he's sharing, and I feel a strange surge of protectiveness. Without thinking, I reach out and gently touch his arm.

"It's okay, Max. You don't have to be ashamed of your past."

He looks up, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and surprise. And before I can stop myself, I blurt out softly, "I already knew you were a porn actor..."