Maxwell paced to and fro in his office as he listened to the person on the phone.
Displeasure increased on his face as the person continued talking.
He ran his hand through his hair as he swore beneath his breath.
"Are you sure, Steve?"
The person spoke for a moment while Maxwell nodded.
"Yes, yes of course. Keep me posted, will you?"
"Thanks", he disconnected the call and walked towards the bar.
He poured himself a generous hand of brandy.
Without a word, he walked towards the window overlooking the mesmerising nightlife of Kayooma.
His office was situated at the topmost level of the gigantic, Rohan Automobile Inc. building.
His employees were long gone for the day.
Though they had wrapped up the final preparations for the annual showroom event that was to take place the next day, Maxwell didn't feel like going home.
Despite everything going on, he couldn't take his mind off a certain someone.
The fact that she had begun to feature prominently in his dreams was even more frustrating.
Yet he knew he was not going to have a wink of sleep that night.
Not after hearing her voice again that day.
Admitting that he was this hung up on a woman who wanted nothing to do with him was pathetic.
Maxwell was not a man who wasted time in taking what he wanted.
Despite how much he had tried to ignore the fact, it was no longer news that he wanted that stubborn woman.
He wanted her badly, messy situations be damned.
He had thought that giving her time to heal was a good idea.
He had even tried ignoring her and going out with other women.
It didn't take him so long to understand why he was always so impatient with any of the many women who were always ready to be at his beck and call.
That was because he was always looking out for any trace of Reyona in them.
Someone with that glorious hair that seemed to attract all the light in the room and spill it all back in the most mesmerising shades.
Someone who could tilt their head at just that perfect angle that made him know she was about to give a scathing comment.
Someone who could raise their brows in that infuriating yet endearing, challenging manner.
He had realised he was just fooling himself.
He didn't want anyone else. He just wanted Reyona.
The patient, understanding plan seemed to be moot.
If her response to his dinner proposal that afternoon was anything, then he was as close to getting on her good side as Mercury was to Jupiter.
Whoever said all a heartbroken woman needed was time to heal was certainly high on something when uttering that.
Time to do things his way.
That was the thought he was fantasizing about before he got the call from Steve.
As Maxwell drained the snifter and thought back on what his KDLEA friend had told him, the warm glow he had from thinking about Reyona was nowhere to be found as he swore loudly and only refrained from tossing the glass in his hand against the wall.
"What the fuck is that bitch up to now?!" he muttered in anger.
Their last meeting had not ended well.
Maxwell was used to her ungrateful comments and infuriating talk.
Blaming his father once again for drilling all those talks about family duties into him, Maxwell had visited her the last time for answers.
But he had left the centre with nothing but rants and bullshits.
"And now this?!" he spoke out loud again.
He couldn't even begin to think of the implication of what his friend had not even said.
What he had said was bad enough.
Maxwell turned away from the window and was halfway to his desk when his phone rang.
Thinking it was Steve calling back again, Maxwell wondered what else he was going to learn about.
But then a look of surprise showed on his face as he saw the caller ID.
Nothing was making sense anymore.
Why was she calling?
He quickly picked up the call before it could disconnect.
**************
She was already waiting for him at the diner she suggested.
Though the black and chrome-themed, 24-hour diner with its kitschy appeal was far from what Maxwell had in mind when he suggested they have dinner, he was more than willing to take it.
She was sitting close to the wide window, and he easily spotted her as he came out of his car.
He could see that she had seen him as well, even though she simply turned away without so much as a smile.
The same question that had been on his mind during the short drive from his company to the diner reared its head again.
"Why did she call?"
All she had said when he picked up the call was "Do you still want that dinner?"
Maxwell was as surprised as he was pleased.
Then he grew suspicious.
She had been so hellbent on not having dinner with him.
And now she called him because of the same? Something was up.
When she told him they should have dinner that evening and even suggested a place close to his current location, Maxwell knew his initial thought was right.
Even with that, he agreed with her.
He wanted her company, pure and simple.
And an evening with her would take his mind off the disturbing call he just had too.
So, he got to the diner less than fifteen minutes after the call was disconnected.
"Reyona," he said as he got to her.
"Hi," she greeted pleasantly.
Okay, something was up.
Not only had she not scolded him for using her first name, but she had also been polite.
He took his seat and looked at the glass of water in front of her.
Scrutinising her face, he said, "That is all you are having?"
She smiled a bit as she said. "I can't have dinner without you being here, can I? I am sure you will find a way to point that out"
Maxwell smiled as he gave her a direct look.
There was no bite in her words, and he could see the tiredness on her face.
"What is going on? Why are we having this dinner?" he spoke his thoughts out loud.
She raised her brows as she said "Isn't that what you wanted? I am giving you what you asked for, okay? Too late to complain now."
Her face grew serious when he only kept looking at her. "Let's order first, okay? I am famished. We can talk while we eat. Or you can watch me eat. Your choice."
She raised her hand and the waiter approached immediately.