Chapter 51 - Words of Wisdom (1/2)

The trio of assistants stood in awe as Maxen sauntered inside Olivia's apartment as if he owned it. But what really caught their attention was the bunch of random flowers tied in a red ribbon in his hand.

The flowers were beautiful, no doubt about that. Six stems of mixed dusty rose and white peony coupled with stems of eucalyptus looked great together and would have made a beautiful bouquet, but the way it was arranged doesn't make the flowers stand out in any way nor give justice to its beauty. After seeing how poorly arranged the flowers were, the trio came up with the same conclusion: the prince was swindled by the florist.

”Is Olivia home?” Maxen asked, sweeping his eyes across the living room then the dining room, and finally the kitchen. He swiveled on his heel to face the trio when he didn't find who he was looking for.

”She's in the office running through some paperwork, Your Highness,” Secretary Gail almost stammered a reply when Maxen's eyes landed straight on her. She fidgeted in her place – her thumbs rapidly rubbed in her index finger, feeling nervous at how imposing Maxen was even without uttering a single word. She was about to usher him to the office but Maxen snapped a finger and said, ”I got it.”

They were half expecting Maxen to barge into Olivia's office after his reply but was surprised when he went straight to the couch in the living room and made himself comfortable.

”Jaaack,” Maxen called out, dragging the last syllable of his butler's name.

”At your service, Your Highness,” Jack hastily followed Maxen's trail towards the living room where the latter lazily sprawled himself on the sofa — his long legs splayed like a 'V' and his arm spread like a wingspan.

”My vitamins. Neat,” Maxen ordered with his eyes closed and his head leaning on the sofa's backrest. He could feel his eyes pulsate in its sockets that he pinched his nose bridge to relieve it from the pain.

A few moments later, Jack came back holding a neat glass of scotch. The amber liquid swirled in the glass, tickling Jack's nose with its aroma as he inched closer to his boss. He handed the drink to Maxen and bowed before he left and hid in the confines of the pocket room in the kitchen where the rest of his comrades already retreated for the night.

”Why did he call it vitamins?” Yana curiously asked Jack as soon as he entered the room.

”Because he drinks a glass… regularly,” Jack replied warily. He second-guessed himself, unsure if he had made the right choice by divulging such detail to the little lass. ”He's not alcoholic, don't worry,” he guaranteed just to put Yana's doubts at ease.

He saw how the little lass's train of thought ran like a bullet train with the random fact that she gathered. He smirked at Yana, impressed at how her loyalty worked, as if she had been employed by Olivia for a very long time even when it was only her second day at the job.

Across Jack, Yana let the matter go and plopped on the lower bunk bed in the pocket room. ”If you say sooo,” she haughtily said.

The room fell into a comfortable silence as the trio of assistants stayed in the cave, each minding their own businesses: Jack wrote in his journal, Secretary Gail arranged Olivia's schedule two weeks ahead, and Yana explored her app.

…

In the living room, Maxen downed his vitamin drink to relieve his body from the physical strains of today's activities.

Oh, and let's not forget that he had to look immaculate that not one strand of hair was out of place, primarily because he had to look the part of being a prince and, of course, because of the media who was thirsty to capture his every move.

After emptying his glass, he placed it on the center table and massaged his forehead when everything about his coveted title and envied life started to tire him out yet again.

While it was true that he grew up and enjoyed the day and night charities, luncheons and galas, plus the perks of ladies swarming him everywhere he went, everything was starting to burn him out that he even found himself asking his reflection in the mirror if what's happening in his life makes any sense at all.

But tonight, it didn't matter whether or not what he does makes sense. He simply wanted to rush home so he could get a glimpse of the lady who swept his feet off the ground.

And like the past two nights of his life, he found solace in an unusual place - a place he stepped foot two nights ago yet somehow felt like home for him. A helpless smile curved his lips as he glanced at Olivia's office door.

Suddenly, he realized that his legs had a mind of its own when he subconsciously peeled himself off from the couch, standing in a daze as the alcohol started to kick in.