Max Irons Always Gets What He Wants

Chapter 14

I sat by the glass table, Max by my side. Deep set lines curved the centre of his forehead, almost a permanent resident on his face. It was a tad bit of a hassle convincing Declan to agree, but ultimately we decided on going for a double date, an Italian meal with Max, Declan, his date, and I. It's going to be such a blast, I just know it. Although, I'm curious of who he would bring as a date. Dare he bring Georgette? What was the outcome of their fling?

"Don't worry sweetheart," Max's voice attempts to soothe my curiosity. "Everything will be just fine, we'll be back in our respective suites in a couple hours- minutes, if we're lucky and they've stood us up."

"I think I should be saying that to you instead, idiot. You went crazy on Declan just recently. And knowing your temperamental self, you probably hold more grudges than the devil."

Max rolled his eyes, and we spent our silence with our phones, checking the e-tabloids and news outlets for what's new. Eyes set downwards, skimming fonts in our cellphones, I saw two pairs of shoes headed our way and as quick as an anaconda under threat of its territory both Max and I simultaneously lifted our heads to discover that Declan has brought a lady with greying hair, wrinkles decorating her frown. She had her hair(and her face, for that matter) up and she looked like the goddess of wealth. Almost thrice his age, I quickly could recognise this woman as Declan's mother.

My fiance was gaping at them such that I had to nudge his elbow. Whispering in his ear that it was Declan's mother, I told Max to smile and be polite. I, out of all people, would know about her intolerance of poor etiquette and image.

"Hello Max, Mrs. Carter," Max and I stood up and nodded at them, shaking their hands before sitting back down. The atmosphere suddenly went cold and our starting conversations were rigid, too much alike a private business meeting. As the waitress took our orders she stared at us with recognition. She knew what was going on. And from the looks of it, the paparazzi as well; they were comfortably perched in their disguises sitting around us. One was eating a plate of pasta and five other ones sipped liquor whilst munching at the breadsticks. Trust me, I've begged the manager to get rid of them beforehand, but there was nothing we could do. They were paying customers, and with their A-list connections, access was an easy feat.

I should've known Declan would bring his one hidden weapon- his mom. She was an angel every single time I've met her, and I remember how she could always persuade me to head over to her place for the weekends and how she'd spend hours in the kitchen teaching me how to bake Declan's favorite pie. She had always been rooting for our relationship to go to the next level; she was a very uptight and cold person back then and when she noticed that the sun of her life was in love and deeply so- not to mention that said love was reciprocated- she willed herself to open her heart and slowly warmed up to me, and everyone else. At one point I must've thought his mom wanted me to marry him more than he did.

His mom stared at me with a demure expression, lips tight in a grim smile. Her eyes expressed an apology- she knew what Declan did was wrong, and she knew Declan's twisted mind brought us now to this convoluted situation. She didn't spare Max a glimpse.

A tense silence enveloped us as we ordered and ate. Occasionally, we'd ask each other how the insignificant details of life has been, but once our responses started to become sarcastic or snarky, we'd slow down our talking into an incomprehensible mutter. I think we can all observe that words hurt, and that's enough for us. For the villain and the good guy(or can we even label each other that?).

"So.." Declan's mom muttered.

"Look, I'm really full and I can't really just sit like this forever, so unless you both have anything to say, Nicole and I will be returning to our rooms," Max politely and bluntly said.

I was still quite hungry because my main course was really tiny, so I ordered dessert. And so did everyone else.

"Declan, your father called me, he said he wanted some closure, so here I am. Now I'd suggest you get over me- that's about all I have to say about it. I don't get what you see that is so unsettling, because I've been by your side the entire time, and then you cheated on me. What do you really have to say?"

"Nic, I do hope you forgive me. I loved you- I still do, and I don't love Georgette. Come on, you know me, and you know I'd trudge through thorns and venomous snakes to get to you. I love you. So much. And I don't want to ever let you go. Please give me a chance. Let's start over, just friends, the both of us. Please forgive me. I know now that even breathing the same air as any other girl is a mistake. Now that I've experienced losing you, I don't want to ever let you out of my sight again," Declan said expressively.

Max gently maneuvered his arm around my shoulder and caressed my skin soothingly. It seemed like he needed the shoulder rub more than I did, because his eyes were narrowed and his lips were slightly parted as if there was nothing else in the world more incredulous than what Declan had just said.

Right when Max was about to reply, our desserts arrived and he retracted his train of thought. We started to dig in, letting the flavors swirl on our tongues.

"Declan, if forgiveness is all you want, you have it. But to be friends, I don't know. I can't do this with you anymore. Especially with the idea that you're constantly planning scandals around us."

"He won't. He promised, didn't you Declan? He will drop everything and focus on winning you back instead," his mother pleaded. Declan nodded in confirmation.

"Tough luck, handsome. When you detached her from your arms she fell into mine. And things are not about to change anytime soon," Max gritted through his teeth.

I continued eating my dessert in silence, but stopped as I bit down on something hard and metal. I proceeded to spit it out.

"What is it?" Max was curious about what had me almost choking and coughing and spitting.

I wiped it dry with a tissue only to realize that it was a ring. A diamond ring.

I stared at Max and Max glared at Declan.

"So much for friendship, huh?" Max muttered with a smile. The paparazzi were now alert, their cellphones out in case a picture-worthy moment brought itself upon us.

So much for friendship, indeed.

"You have to believe me- it wasn't me- trust me, it looks like it's me but I didn't do it-" Max's glare quickly shut him up. And I was stuck in a position where I either believed or didn't believe a man whom I had known for so long.

We were still for a moment until Max decided to softly mutter, "So what would you like me to do now? I'm thinking of proposing, because the way I was raised, it would be rude to just make you almost choke on a ring and wear it."

"Well, technically you didn't-"

"Yeah but we've got to do some damage control before this gets out of hand or before anyone else gets any ideas," Max wiggled his eyebrows gracefully as he hints at Declan and his mother.

Declan's mother seemed to have had an idea as her eyes glinted and she whispered to Declan that he should get on his knees and propose instead. However, that whisper was more of a raspy normal talking voice, so it didn't go unnoticed by the both of us.

Uh-oh.

Max's eyes narrowed again and Declan looked at the ring as if it were his saving grace.

Please, for the mercy of all scandals and the paparazzi who are anticipating for this moment to unfurl in front of them, do not let this be some sort of dramatic fight for the girl thing.

Again, uh-oh.

*rambling writer part*

special apologies to @nessy215 ...I promised you to update like 9 MONTHS AGO :") well, the baby came out lol

and I'd like to recommend y'all Max Irons fans to read @AutumFlavors 's book titled 'BAKERY LOVE'. Go support her guys! I'll be right here typing up the new chap!