Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13






"THAT'S YOUR nephew?" Dolly sprawled on the bed. Her face eventually recovered their natural flush. Max was worried that she would be shocked upon witnessing how Yeon-hee manhandle Fin without breaking a sweat. That woman can be fierce. Especially now that she couldn't get a break when she just got married. Max would directly rip Fin's head off if it was him. Max wished to personally deal with the man but that would sow a problem between rogues and the coven.

A leader personally taking the life of another shifter kind will be an issue of abusing his power. If he let his enforcer deal with it, then the matter will be seen as Fin's lapse of judgement.

"Yes. He's a rat."

"A bat." She smiled.

Max grinned. "Fine, a bat. Now happy?"

"He sounds incredibly young."

"Hmn... he will still age faster than a full vampire because of his mortal side. Janette reached enlightenment when she reached 30. She will look like 30 even if she's 550 years old. I was 25 when I reached it... and so..." Janette always scolded him about his struggle to reach the final years of his enlightenment. He can recall those days as if it was just yesterday. 'Maybe I never got old?' Or maybe he doesn't really have anything memorable after his enlightenment.

Dolly's mouth pulled a straight line. "I'll look older than you when time comes."

Max was surprised with her blatant expression of distaste. After what had happened with Laura, he can't blame her for being like this. It was his fault in the first place. He forgot settling Laura's business. "Hmn. When time comes you'll be stuck in that appearance as well. We would have to exchange our bites soon."

Dolly faces his eyes head on and enunciated, "Are you in a relationship with anyone?"

Max unclasped the buttons of his suit. He laid the outer coat on the bed before answering gingerly, "I am not engaged. Just broke that yesterday, remember?"

"Yeah... no son or daughter anywhere?"

Max tried his best to be not hurt of that question. "I would've told you that immediately if I have."

"Oh..." Dolly finally showed him a smile. "I'm just messing with you."

"Nah." He nodded. "I know you're weary because of Laura. That's good. I don't want you to be on guard with me but in the future, being curious will help you evade problems with other people."

It's Max' fault that he forgot about his cousin. "Jeffrey was assigned in field work but the damn rat has been working in the office until now. I especially ordered Cedric to give him experience in field work yesterday... I think his boss will butcher his first day."

"Why do you think like that?"

"Ah, well..." Max shrugs before smiling wanly. "Let's say I know something about his boss. Something very important."

Dolly breathed heavily. "Are you thinking about scheming against him?"

He loosened the tie on his neck. When he heard the accusation on Dolly's voice, he blinked twice before answering. "I'm not going to. If you consider it from my perspective, it will look like giving him a chance even— an option."

"I don't get why..."

"Are you fine going home with me, Dolly?"

Dolly's eyes narrowed with his abrupt change of topic but she acquiesced nonetheless. 'I'm going to pimp the information out of him on the way.'

"I have nowhere else to go. If not going home with you, where can I stay?"

"If you are not comfortable with me..." Max swallowed. "I can buy you a house—"

"Buy me a house?" Dolly's narrowed eyebrows only worsened.

Max quickly changed his words.

"Rent, I mean," he said, "I will offer giving the down payment and you can... pay me back slowly."

'Buying a house is too much!' Dolly worried her lower lips with her finger. 'With rent, I can pay him later when I have enough money.'

Dolly realized the huge gap between her and Max. She needs to narrow down this obstacle a little. Although Max doesn't mind spending money like it's nothing, Dolly herself wants to prove than she can provide for herself before committing with him. That way, she won't seem like a leech. Freeloading off from her mate's glory.

She knew that being independent means a lot. It can be hard. But Dolly managed when Fin was still there with her. Now that he's gone, saving up money should be easier. She can work two jobs simultaneously. All she need is to be focused and be thrifty.

With Max as her inspiration, she won't lack the energy to move forward!

Max didn't miss the shine in Dolly's eyes. He was relieved to see that Fin's disappearance doesn't take a lot of space in her mind.

'Fin doesn't, but that expression surely means something...'

Although he doesn't have an idea as to what is Dolly planning to do, Max wants to see over it with full grasp of control in the details.

He doesn't desire controlling her every move but he wished to know everything about her.

"Then... I will go with you in the city. When are you planning to go back?"

Max smoothed the wrinkle on his slacks then look at her straight. "Tomorrow. I'll have someone ou pack all your clothes by tomorrow morning. You don't have to worry. All you have to do is ease your mind before we set afoot away from Little Maddison."

Dolly asked, "Tomorrow? You just came here last week. I thought you're here for a vacation?"

"A vacation, you say..." Max rolled his eyes playfully. "Laura came and Cedric kept on calling me. My sister sends me nasty texts in the morning— tell me, is this what 'vacation' means?"

She pursed her lips to force down the smile blooming on her face. "Nasty texts... does your sister hates you so much?"

'After knowing I came back not even two weeks of her supposed vacation gifted to me? Sweetheart, she will chew me alive.' He nodded graciously. "No, Janette won't hate me. It's just... she sends me inspirational quotes everyday. Those works backwards with me. Instead of being inspired, I get really... irritated. For some reason."

"Why?"

"Do I look like I needed those to inspire me?" Max sighed noisily. "I've lived for so long. Motivational quotes won't work on me the way your existence could."

Dolly smiled a little. She knew what he means to say. It's hard trying to live for yourself when you don't see anything worth it in our body, but when we have someone to protect and provide for, we fight even though it's almost impossible.

She watched as Max fiddled with the tie hanging low on his stomach. Dolly wondered what he could be musing about.

Max washed the worry out of his face. 'How am I going to tell Janette this... should I start calling her 'big sis?'

That seems okay.

'Everything to appease her so that she won't fuss about Dolly.'