Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Are You Together With Him
###Chapter 22: Are You Seeing Him Now?!
Benjamin Sterling had appeared beside the table at some point. He wore a false smile, but his eyes were as cold as ice.
Trailing behind him was Rose Joyce, a worried expression on her face.
"President Sterling." Finn Finch put down his wine glass, his tone distant.
Finn Finch had never liked Benjamin Sterling. If not for his respect for Maxine Rhodes and her competence, he would have never given Sterling Group this chance to partner with them.
"Director Young, you seem to be enjoying yourself," Benjamin Sterling said, his gaze slithering between Maxine Rhodes and Finn Finch like a viper. "To think you could take time out of your busy schedule to dine *alone* with our Director Rhodes. It seems our Director Rhodes has really put in a lot of *effort* for this Apex project."
He deliberately stressed the words "alone" and "effort," the sordid implication unmistakable.
Maxine Rhodes’s expression instantly fell, her eyes icing over.
Rose Joyce immediately tugged on Benjamin Sterling’s sleeve, appearing to soothe him but actually fanning the flames. "Benjamin, don’t talk like that... Maxine and Director Young are surely discussing business."
She turned to Maxine Rhodes with a look of pure innocence and envy. "Maxine, you’re so incredible. To find a partner as capable and considerate as Director Young. And he’s so patient with you, too. I’m truly envious."
Finn Finch frowned, and just as he was about to speak in Maxine’s defense, she elegantly rose to her feet.
Not a hint of panic showed on her face. In fact, a sarcastic smile touched her lips as she met Benjamin Sterling’s gaze calmly.
"President Sterling."
"By speculating about me, the project director, with such an unprofessional attitude, are you questioning Apex’s standards for choosing their partners?"
Her words immediately elevated the issue to one of corporate credibility, and the color on Benjamin Sterling’s face changed instantly.
Before he could react, Maxine Rhodes turned her gaze on Rose Joyce, her lips curling into an icy smirk.
"And you, Miss Joyce." She paused intentionally, looking Rose Joyce up and down. "If I recall correctly, you’re not an employee of the Sterling Group. So, may I ask, in what capacity, and on what grounds, are you standing here making moral judgments about me?"
She leaned forward slightly, her voice low but every word a dagger. "Is it on the grounds of your status as a guest living in the Sterling family home?"
The moment the words left her mouth, all the color drained from Rose Joyce’s face. Guests at several nearby tables began to cast strange glances in their direction.
"Finally," Maxine Rhodes looked back at Benjamin Sterling, her tone returning to one of professional detachment. "This dinner will be expensed to the project budget, and I will file for reimbursement through the proper channels. If President Sterling insists on viewing standard business interactions in such a sordid light, then I suggest you contact Apex directly to request a replacement for the project lead."
Benjamin Sterling was choked into silence, his face a ghastly white. He knew better than anyone how important this project was to the company; he absolutely could not afford to truly offend Finn Finch.
Finn Finch chose that moment to rise, elegantly straightening his suit. His tone was polite yet utterly distant. "President Sterling, Director Rhodes is absolutely correct. What Apex values is the Sterling Group team, and particularly Director Rhodes’s professional expertise. If the foundation of our partnership is to be built on such baseless suspicion..."
He paused meaningfully, leaving the sentence unfinished, but the threat was obvious.
He turned to Maxine Rhodes, his tone gentler now. "Director Rhodes, shall we?"
Maxine Rhodes gave a slight nod. Without deigning to give Benjamin Sterling so much as another glance, she walked out shoulder-to-shoulder with Finn Finch.
Benjamin Sterling stood frozen, watching them leave. His chest heaved violently, but he didn’t dare utter a single threat. He could only force himself to swallow his rage and frustration.
That afternoon, Benjamin Sterling summoned Maxine Rhodes directly to his office.
"Tell me the truth! Are you seeing him?!"
Maxine Rhodes looked at his furious expression and found it utterly ridiculous. "Do I need to report to you who I’m seeing?"
"Stop pretending!" Benjamin Sterling snarled through gritted teeth. "So that’s why you’ve been giving me the cold shoulder. You’ve latched onto a big shot like Finn Finch! Picking you up in a fancy car, helping you land the project, and now you’re even having cozy dinners together! Maxine Rhodes, are you that desperate to find someone just to make me angry?"
"Benjamin Sterling," Maxine Rhodes said, her tone calm, yet every word was a dagger. "Do you think the world revolves around you? That I work hard to spite you? That I network to spite you? That everything I do is just to spite you?"
She took a step forward, her gaze turning cold. "You think far too highly of yourself. I’ve told you before: we are over. Everything I do now is for myself. It has absolutely nothing to do with you."
"You..." Her words struck him like a blow, and the color drained from his face.
"If that’s what you insist on believing," Maxine Rhodes scoffed, "then fine. For someone like you, who lives in his own little world, words are a waste of breath."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Benjamin Sterling watched her leave, a conviction solidifying in his mind. ’Maxine must be doing this on purpose to make me mad! There’s no way she could just let go of our five-year relationship!’
It was late at night by the time Maxine Rhodes returned to Cloudview Apartments.
Pushing open the door, the motion-sensor light in the entryway lit up warmly. She kicked off her high heels, feeling as if all the strength had been drained from her body.
Only a single floor lamp was left on in the living room, casting a soft glow. She thought Ethan Hawthorne was already asleep, but as she turned, she nearly walked into a solid embrace.
Ethan Hawthorne had appeared behind her at some point. He was dressed in dark gray loungewear and smelled faintly of fresh shower gel, a glass of warm water in his hand.
"You’re back?" His voice, low and deep, was strikingly clear in the quiet of the night.
Maxine Rhodes froze for a second, then took half a step back, creating a polite distance. "Yes. You’re not asleep yet, Mr. Hawthorne?"
"Just handling some documents." He handed her the glass of water, his movements fluid and natural. "It’s warm."
His fingertips brushed against the back of her hand, a fleeting, cool touch.
Maxine Rhodes accepted the glass, thanking him. The weariness that clung to her seemed to lessen a little.
’This man always seemed to be like this, perfectly considerate, never overstepping his bounds, making this contract marriage of hers far more comfortable than she ever imagined.’
"How’s the project going?" he asked, as if in passing, but his eyes flickered to her slightly furrowed brow.
"It’s fine." Maxine Rhodes had no desire to discuss the unpleasantness at her company; besides, it wasn’t part of their contract.
At her formal tone, a flicker of disappointment crossed Ethan Hawthorne’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper warmth.
He stepped aside to clear the way. "That’s good, then. Get some rest. Good night."
"Good night."
Ethan Hawthorne didn’t return to his own room until her door had clicked softly shut.
’I have plenty of patience,’ he thought. ’I can wait for her to slowly let down her guard and accept me.’
