Chapter 90 - First Impression (1/2)
After an hour, Maxen and Olivia arrived at his private residence. Holding out his hand, he helped Olivia get off the car, who shivered in her spot the instant she found her footing.
It was already dark when they arrived in Notios Estate. And just like any other nights in the country, the chilly wind welcomed them. It swept Olivia's dark chocolate hair, which danced as the wind blew past that she had to bunch it with her hand.
Hugging her by the arm, to keep her warm and to calm her racing heart, Maxen led the steps from the driveway to the main door. His tight grip on Olivia's hand reassured her she could count on him for support for that evening.
”Wait,” Olivia halted her step. She looked around the pedicured garden, trying to calm her nerves. ”Can I smoke here? One. Just one stick.” She held out her index finger, her teeth chattering from the cold.
”You smoke?” Maxen c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. He never smelled nicotine on Olivia and hearing her ask for permission was rather… mind-boggling.
”I do, when I'm stressed. But I can't finish a stick so you can finish it for me,” she said, rummaging through the stuff in her bag.
”I don't smoke. It's ok.” Maxen shook his head, disappointed over what he was seeing. He tried to taste it before with Oliver and Wyatt but the lingering taste in his mouth made him swear not to touch a single stick ever again.
”Just one stick. I promise.” She immediately lit up her stick of a cigarette when she found the little torch.
”Really?”
”Really.”
”Hmm. I'm not keen on the sight of you smoking,” Maxen swatted the cancerous smoke of white away from him. ”Olivia, I know you're under a lot of stress lately, but you're not helping yourself with smoking.”
”Do you know what's stressing me? You, stressing about me smoking. You're not helping me right now, Max.”
Changing the topic before they get into another heated argument, Maxen probed, ”Can I see your cigarette case?”
Passing the silver cigarette case to Maxen, his eyes bulged out of its socket. ”Eh?? Are you kidding me? This is empty. That's the last one.”
”I told you, just one stick.” Olivia grinned like a cheshire cat, triumphant over her successful wordplay. With one last dramatic puff, she buried the half-lit cigar into a potted plant and sprayed sanitizer on her hand.
Hooking her arm on Maxen, she whispered, ”Okay, Your Highness. Just show me where the powder room is so I can freshen up before I face my mother.”
Maxen stood rooted in his spot, his hands dipped in his pocket. Olivia knew he wouldn't move unless she says what he wanted to hear. Facing him, she made a commitment, ”And wipe off that scowl on your face because that's the last time I will light a cigar, okay?”
Maxen's lips pursed, satisfied with what he heard from Olivia. He gestured an 'Okay' sign and kissed her temple before leading the way inside the mansion and into the study.
To their surprise, just as they reached the threshold, they could hear chiming giggles inside. Maxen grimaced. He knew who that ticklish sound belonged to because he heard that growing up.
”I'll use the powder room. You can go in first,” Olivia uttered. Maxen nodded and gestured for the waiting house help to usher Olivia to the powder.