<b>“</b><b>Did </b>I hear you took York out for some fun?”
<b>It </b>was nine in the evening when Max called. A quick mental calction–he <b>must </b><b>be </b>calling from his side of the world, where it was just nine in the morning.
At that very moment, Max stood next to a floor–to–ceiling window, gazing down at the traffic below. From up there, the cars looked no bigger than toy models. He held a mug of coffee in one hand, the phone in the other, sleeves casually rolled up to reveal a watch worth more than most people’s cars. Everything about him radiated a polished, refined elegance.
“Word travels fast, huh? You must have ears everywhere,” Alessia replied, unsurprised Max was already in the loop.
“Just making sure you’re not left in the dark. Thought I’d give you a call, little troublemaker.” A half–smile yed on Max’s lips; his voice, especially thest word, carried a teasing fondness.
“Didn’t realize there was something I didn’t know.” Alessia tossed her towel onto the chair and leaned against the headboard.
“While you were out, Mae broke her wrist. She’s probably been discharged by now. Dawson gave her a month off andpensated her, but Mae said she had nowhere to go, so she asked the butler not to give her the time off.”
“A broken wrist? Was it Ileana again?” Alessia sat up, worry flickering across her
face.
Max wouldn’t bother updating her on a servant’s injury unless there was a reason. He wanted to see how she would handle it. That was his kind of amusement–it always had been.
Mae was one of the few people in the Tate household Alessia actually cared about. Honest and reliable, meticulous in her work, Mae was one of the rare souls in that house who truly looked out for her. Alessia couldn’t help but care.
“York wasn’t around, so Ileana tried to get rid of that little animal he keeps. But the creature was smart enough to dash back inside, Mae stepped in to protect it, things got physical, and she tumbled down the front steps and broke her wrist.”
Max arched an eyebrow, his voice cool and indifferent, as if a broken bone was nothing more than a scraped knee. In truth, if not for knowing Alessia would be concerned, he wouldn’t have given it a second thought.
<b>1/2 </b>
14<b>:</b>431
The <b>Tates</b>, <b>after </b><b>all</b>, <b>were </b>cold <b>to </b><b>the </b><b>core</b>.
Alessia’s expression darkened instantly.
<b>“</b><b>Call </b>me ‘big brother‘ and I’ll have her thrown out of the house for you. How’s <b>that</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Max set <i>hi </i>
coffee down and lounged back in his chair, utterly unbothered<b>, </b>as if
Ileana’s fate depended on his mood alone.
“I’ll handle this myself.”
Max had expected nothing less.
“Suit yourself. The front door’s still open.”
“You and your twisted sense of humor. Some things never change.” Alessia knew that whatever she did to Ileana tonight, the Tates would turn a blind eye.
Once the call ended, Max put his phone back on the desk and mused, “Alessia, you really haven’t changed. Was it that Whitley kid who made you different, or is this just who you are?”
He drummed his fingers on the tabletop, already looking forward to what would happen next.
Meanwhile, Alessia didn’t rush out after hanging up. Instead, she walked into the living room.
“Mom, Dad, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Her parents exchanged surprised but delighted nces; this was the first time Alessia hade to them for advice. It felt good to be needed by their daughter, especially Alessia.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
“The shop needs new staff, right? I’d like to rmend someone.”
There were better jobs out there, but she knew Mae’s temperament–too gentle for her own good. Offer her too much, and Mae would only refuse, awkwardly expressing endless gratitude and lowering herself even further. Alessia hated that dynamic. The work at the shop was tougher than what Mae was used to at the Tate house, but for someone like Mae, it would be just right.
Chapter <b>176 </b>