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"I don\'t think we\'re still too distant compared to how close we got last night."

"What — what are you saying now?" Cosette took a peek at Maxen for a moment before averting her eyes.

"You really don\'t remember?"

"What\'s there to remember?"

"Should I show you and see if you remember?"

"What!?" Her eyes dilated as she looked back at him in horror. Cosette held her breath for a moment, realizing how close her face was to him.

\'Beautiful,\' was what came into her head instantly, staring into his eyes. Although she had been seeing him seven times in a week, only now did she realize how gorgeous he was up close — this close.

Maxen narrowed his eyes, studying her reaction. "So you remember, huh?"

"Ah?"

"Why lie about it?" he arched a brow, tilting his head to the side. His entire body shivered when her fresh breath and the faint floral perfume wafted his nose. Maxen blinked twice, getting out of his half-daze state from the lack of sleep, realizing she was this close — too close — with him.

\'I am...\' his mouth parted slightly, eyes falling on those lips. \'... going crazy, for real.\'

When Maxen raised his gaze and locked eyes with her, his breathing slowed down. He could feel the thickening tension building between them. Neither of them looked away as if they were waiting for something to magically happen. The ambiance and the moment just felt right for whatever it meant.

He tilted his head slightly and leaned in, hoping deep in his heart she would push him away to get him back to his senses. He needed a third party to stop him because if he would rely on himself, he couldn\'t. Her misbehavior last night kept him awake all night, and he hadn\'t collected his thoughts yet.

\'Stop, stop, stop,\' was what he kept telling himself, but seeing her keep her eyes on him with anticipation, he felt like losing his mind. And when Cosette held her breath, pursing her lips, closing her eyes, something in his head snapped.

\'Fuck...\'

He secretly ground his teeth, ready to bare his teeth and sell his soul to the devil just to have a taste of her. A proper taste. Something she would never deny even if she wanted to. An experience she and he would never forget.

But alas, just before his lips could touch her, someone coughed from behind them.

Maxen instantly froze when his lips were just a few centimeters away from her. Meanwhile, Cosette popped her eyes open and gasped in horror. When she tilted her head to the side, her eyes dilated even more as her complexion turned pale.

Asher.

"Uh..." Cosette tapped Maxen\'s chest, and the latter moved back in a daze. "He he..."

She laughed awkwardly, clearing her throat while tucking her hair behind her ear. Flashing Asher a smile, who bore this unreadable yet cold countenance, Cosette skipped back.

"I\'ll get the girls something to eat," she announced, darting her eyes between Maxen and Asher. After a second, she hurriedly rushed away, walking past Asher even without getting food, just as she announced and planned.

Asher arched a brow, glancing back to see her almost sprinting through the hallway. When he peeled his eyes from her back to Maxen, the latter also raised his eyes at him at the same time.

Just like yesterday, the two of them stared at each other in silence.

Asher slipped his hand in his pocket, marching ahead and onto the counter to pick up an apple in the bowl of fruits. As he took a bite, he glanced back at Maxen, seeing the latter in deep thought while looking up.

"You\'re lucky," Asher spoke after a full minute of silence, leaning his back against the counter. "Beautiful, smart, and rich. My little brother is very fond of her."

Maxen arched a brow and returned Asher\'s gaze. "Your little brother is very fond of her... so, what?" he tilted his head to the side.

"Calling dibs for him?" he added out of plain curiosity. "Or for you?"

"Don\'t get me wrong, Mister Cloven." Asher laughed with his lips closed, folding his arms under his chest. "I don\'t share the same interest as you or my brother. But alas, I\'ve always been overprotective of my brother. The young miss of the Blac Family is the only friend Luke had who didn\'t bear malice. Therefore, I feel responsible for those kids."

"Do all rich people have a habit of doing background checks on people?" Maxen asked with a touch of ridicule, knowing that was what Asher did for knowing his name and the reason for his frustrating tone.

"It\'s part of our world, Mister Cloven." Asher shrugged. "We have to know who were are friends and foes."

"And you think I fall into the category of the latter?"

"I said no such thing. But for someone who had nothing but suddenly the world is within his reach... I must say I am astonished." Asher\'s smile didn\'t reach his eyes. "You are a clever one. You chose a good one."

Maxen laughed weakly, but for obvious reasons, he felt nothing from Asher\'s insinuation. He was used to it and numbed to this type of mockery. This wouldn\'t hurt him. At the end of the day, this guy, who thought he already had figured things out, and his opinion didn\'t matter to Maxen.

Asher was nothing but just another human being for Maxen. If this was Conrad or Cosette, or the people in the Blac\'s manor, he would care for sure. Because those people and their opinions mattered to Maxen. No one else.

"Funny, isn\'t it?" Maxen planted his hands on the surface of the dining table, eyes on Asher. "One day, you\'re the best, and the world seemed to revolve around you. Then, the next, you\'ll meet someone who came from nothing and a nobody, but suddenly had a chance to become someone."

"You think I had it easy by taking advantage of other people\'s kindness for my ambition?" he continued with a ridiculing laugh. "Isn\'t that a little hypocritical, Young Master Quinn? Even let\'s just say I bear such an intention. Isn\'t that life is?"

Maxen cocked his head to the side. "Just like how the rich pursue more power and influence, the poor can pursue the same thing. The only difference is that you people didn\'t have to start from scratch and had a head start. While a nobody like me can only rely on myself to make it happen."

"What is so bad about hugging someone\'s thigh? Especially if those thighs are too tempting not to?" he added. "Guard your territory as much as you want, pretty boy. But I don\'t need your approval for the things I do. I do what I can, and you do you. End of discussion."

"Don\'t worry, though. Once I succeed with this perfectly concocted plan of marrying a rich, beautiful girl, I\'ll surely remember your name." Maxen smiled, pushing himself away from the table. He snorted at Asher and turned on his heel, about to walk away, when he stopped.

"By the way." He raised a finger and looked back at Asher, smirking. "I know that look when you interrupted us. Deny it all you want, but I saw what I saw. I do not mind competing with a hypocrite like you to win her heart, though. She\'s worth it. But... I hope you won\'t mind competing with your brother as well. Have a nice day, Young Master Quinn."

With that being said, Maxen peeled his eyes away from Asher. His eyes glinted dangerously, smirking as he marched away. Meanwhile, Asher\'s eyes darkened, staring at Maxen\'s back as the latter walked away.

Asher stayed in that same spot for minutes, eyes on the entrance where Maxen left.

"I don\'t understand what\'s going on inside the Blacs\' head for letting such a cunning fox with a sharp tongue inside their home," he mumbled, glancing at the apple he had bitten once before tossing it on the counter. "But whatever it was... I don\'t like him."

Not that Asher didn\'t know Maxen didn\'t care whether he liked him. He disliked Maxen the second their eyes met. And the same goes for Maxen. There wasn\'t any particular reason for this hostility, and they both knew that. However, they were also aware that there were just certain individuals that one wouldn\'t like for no damn reason.

That was life, and they couldn\'t please everyone.

\'I know that look... I saw what I saw.\'

Suddenly, Maxen\'s words crossed Asher\'s head once again, making the latter laugh in ridicule. Sure, Asher was surprised at the scene he walked into. However, his primary concern was that Luke was pursuing Cosette. If the two got married, it would be good for the BLK Corporation and Quinn\'s Holdings.

\'He\'s delusional...\' he bit his tongue. Danger lurked in his eyes as they darkened. \'I can get her if I want to, but I don\'t because I don\'t want to. He shouldn\'t test me like that.\'

Asher snapped his eyes when he noticed three shadows approaching the entrance. He pulled himself away from the counter and walked away in another direction with glinting eyes.

Unlike Maxen, who wasn\'t even affected by every nonsense Asher uttered, the latter was a little annoyed — challenged. After all, Asher… was competitive in every aspect of life and he disliked losing, especially to someone as arrogant as Maxen.