his budding romance."
Dan smiled, but knew that was not going to happen. Max had run out on him, and he doubted flowers would be a good enough reason for her to take him back. His only regret was that he ever took her money in the first place, he was just thankful he managed to slip it into her purse while she was looking out of the window in the taxi. Maybe it would show her he wasn't the jerk she thought he was.
If she was even thinking of him, maybe he had just been a one night stand, a bit of entertainment after dinner. She thought he was an escort, a man who took money from women in return for his company. He still couldn't work out why she had enjoyed being with him so much. Compared to her he was some kind of Neanderthal. But last night, in his bed and up against the wall, he shook his head, not wanting to torture himself. They had fitted together so perfectly.
Thinking of their lovemaking made him feel worse. There was only so much of a hammering his male ego could take. Max running out on him when he thought he had shown her how much she meant to him made him cringe. Just like his fiancé before, she must have seen through him, all women left him in the end.
His mood darkened. Perhaps he should forget the flowers, and simply let her go. He was no good for women. Last night had been a way of him getting the cash together to save his sister from losing her home. All he had done was upset Max, and let his sister down. What an asshole.
Chapter Three - Max
Feeling like a zombie, after a sleepless weekend, Max dragged herself into work on Monday morning. Faking a smile, she carried her list of appointments into her office, closing the door thankfully and crashing down into her chair. This was going to be a long day, the start of a very long week
Every time the phone rang, or Shirley came in, she expected it to be a message from Dan. Time and time again it wasn't, so she started to relax. Although her head developed a dull thump behind her temples, telling her she had to snap out of it, because concentrating was a struggle. Thankfully she had no big clients today, and so she struggled on, most certainly lack lustre in everything she did.
"Anything I can get you, Miss Lewis?" Shirley asked for the hundredth time.
"Nothing, thank you, Shirley. I have a headache, that's all," she eventually conceded when she saw her secretary's worried look.
"Oh, shall I get you something for it?"
"Already taken something, but it's persistent. I might go home early if I can't shift it."
Shirley's worry increased, her secretary knew too well that Max always left late, never early. She’s just have to tough it out.
***
Mr Bradshaw sat in her office, they were going over his projected figures, Max stifled a yawn and glanced at the clock. The day had been unbearably long, and if the man in front of her droned on much longer she would fall asleep in her chair.
"So, Miss Lewis. I think you'll agree I'm a good risk for a substantial increase on the loan we've already arranged."
Snapping her attention back to Mr Bradshaw she realised she had missed a lot of what he had been saying, and he had slipped something past her. "Perhaps you could take me through it again." She groaned internally, and Mr Bradshaw looked unamused. Smiling in encouragement, she added, "I want to make sure I can get you the best rate possible for your loan, and I can only do that if I know your plan inside and out.
Looking happier, Max found people often did when they thought they would save money, he pulled out his sheaf of papers and began going over his plans again. Luckily he had it all in order, and after another hour she was shaking his very grateful hand, and seeing him out of the door. "I'll get my secretary to type it up tomorrow, and then I'll have a courier bring it over for you to sign."
"Thank you, Miss Lewis. Sorry to have taken up so much of your time." He left, looking happy, and Max leaned back against the door, hoping she could slip out now.
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