MINE NOW:

{Max: Won't you be at the café today?}

{Ezra: Unfortunately, I can't make it. I've got a magazine shoot lined up.}

{Max: Maria mentioned she won't be making any exceptions. If you can't make it, the weekend specials won't be prepared just for you later even if you want them.}

{Ezra: Oh, gosh. So, what's your plan then? Can you grab some for me? And get some for Celeste too; it's a joint shoot between us.}

{Max: I'm not exactly free to play the role of your personal delivery guy.}

Nevertheless, Maximillian found himself purchasing the specials for Ezra and Celeste. He sighed, acknowledging how he seemed to be willingly entangled in Ezra's charm. Over the past two months, their friendship had deepened, evolving to the point where they knew each other's families and friends. This level of closeness was new for Maximillian, who had never connected so swiftly and profoundly with anyone before. They often met, and recently, Ezra even showed up to support Maximillian during a martial arts match, albeit with a hint of playful teasing.

After the match, Ezra pounced on Maximillian in the hallway. "Hey, selfish prick."

"Hello to you too, overachieving do-gooder. What brings you here exactly?"

"Why, to support you, of course. Why else would I bother? Aren't I just the epitome of kindness and care?"

"Sure, whatever floats your boat. Want to grab lunch with me if you haven't eaten yet?"

Maximillian watched as Ezra extended his hand, and without thinking, he bent down, allowing Ezra to do as he pleased. Ezra ran his fingers through Maximillian's hair, fixing loose strands. His index finger then descended to Maximillian's now-closed eye, gently wiping away a bead of sweat.

Leaning in, Ezra flashed a grin at Maximillian. "So, what's the plan? Should I treat you to celebrate your victory, or do you want the honors of treating me for the joy of your triumph?"

Maximillian gently pulled Ezra's hand away from his face but retained a hold on it, seriously meeting Ezra's gaze. "I'll treat you. What's your craving right now?"

Ezra smirked. "So serious. I find it cute though. Turkish food, perhaps? There's a great place just around the corner."

"Picture this: two middle schoolers, treating each other in a fancy restaurant. Can you imagine it?" Maximillian chuckled.

"Not really. But if you take me there, maybe I can visualize such a scene," Ezra laughed.

Unbeknownst to them, these moments grew increasingly common in their lives — visiting each other and sharing meals together, much like today when Maximillian paid a visit to Ezra on set. It marked his inaugural experience observing Ezra in action. Both Ezra and Celeste were adorning the pages of the magazine, their faces captivating the audience.

The staff, immediately recognizing Maximillian, swiftly arranged a seat for him as he patiently awaited Ezra's break. Celeste, the first to go on break, found Ezra still caught up in the photo shoot.

Spotting Maximillian, she sauntered over with a raised brow and remarked, "He asks, and you appear so readily? Never pegged you for someone with so much free time, Mister Carlisle."

Maximillian, lounging comfortably with one leg casually crossed over the other, kept his eyes fixed on Ezra's photo session until Celeste obstructed his view. Annoyance flickered across his face as he looked up. "I'm not exactly free, but here I am. Now that you have your answer, could you kindly step aside?"

"Am I blocking your view?" Celeste inquired.

"Yes."

"Is watching him that captivating?"

Maximillian shifted his attention from Ezra to Celeste. "Why the sudden interrogation?"

"Just because. I'll step aside, no worries. But first, I need some clarification. So, if you could please answer my question," Celeste insisted.

She couldn't help but feel curious. On a prior occasion, when she informed Ezra about her school organizing a play, he quickly agreed to come and watch her perform. However, later, she lost track of him after the play, only to find him when he was walking down the stairs towards the senior classes. Before she could call out to him, she observed Ezra leaning down the railing, playfully tousling someone's hair — specifically, Maximillian Carlisle's hair.

The guy initially looked annoyed at having his personal space invaded, but his expression quickly shifted from surprise to a softer one at having realised that it was Ezra. They started chatting, Ezra's hand slowly moving from Maximillian's hair to his shoulder, eventually being held by Maximillian and playfully toyed with. Celeste discreetly observed the scene, not very pleased with what she saw.

Sharp and perceptive, Celeste sensed more than friendship between the two, raising doubts about Maximillian's intentions with Ezra's heart. His track record of rejecting even the most beautiful and talented, like her friend Alice Hughes, left Celeste skeptical. Despite Alice's thorough rejection, she remained persistent, which both annoyed and worried Celeste. Now that her own cousin was involved, Celeste's concern for potential heartbreak was natural. She was determined to ensure Maximillian would genuinely give Ezra a chance; otherwise, he'd be seen not just as a villain and a douche but a tasteless and blind one in her eyes.

"Well? Are you going to answer me or not?"

Maximillian sank into deep contemplation before emitting a quiet laugh, catching Celeste off guard as it was the first time she had witnessed him laugh. It wasn't an exaggeration; Maximillian Carlisle rarely displayed carefree laughter or smiles. His broad smiles usually concealed hidden agendas, a nuance Celeste could easily discern. She couldn't help but feel that it was a shame Ezra and Alice missed witnessing this rare moment. Then again, Ezra probably had encountered such glimpses before.

"Could Miss Ashton here be assessing whether I harbor romantic feelings for Ezra?" Maximillian grinned.

"Is that the conclusion you drew from my questions?" Celeste neither confirmed nor denied Maximillian's words.

"Yes, indeed. And it made me realize somthing too. I must thank you for letting me figure it out," he said, looking away and rubbing his nape in embarrassment. "And for your earlier question... Yes, looking at him is quite captivating. He looks exceptionally good right now. I don't want to take my eyes off him, especially not now. So if you could please step aside and let me savor the moment."

"Wow. Corny. Cringe. I will break your legs if you hurt him."

"I am aware." Maximillian closed his eyes, then handed Celeste her share of the lunch he brought and tried to shoo her away.

Though still harboring some doubts, setting them aside for now, Celeste chuckled before stepping aside. She didn't realize how wide her smile was until the makeup artist advised her to rein it in. She felt genuinely happy for Ezra at the moment. Though Maximillian still didn't sit well with her, at least he seemed genuinely interested in Ezra and looked like he would treat him well. Plus, with Maximillian being wealthy, Ezra was in for some spoiling. Above all, she hoped this development would finally put an end to Alice's painful one-sided pursuit of Maximillian.

When Ezra took a break, he headed over to Maximillian, pulling him to the furthest corner of the set and also dragging their chairs to that location. A blackout curtain hung there, a spot the models used for quick outfit adjustments if needed. Ezra had claimed this area as his personal break space, opting to enjoy his lunch there.

"Thanks, Max. I had to make you bring me this. I feel a bit guilty now, but Louis wasn't free, and nobody else is nice enough to help me buy lunch."

"Don't worry. You can thank me by dancing for me later." Maximillian teased.

"Y'know what? I'm not hungry anymore," Ezra replied in a joking manner.

"Just kidding." Maximillian chuckled.

"I'll pay you back after the shoot. My phone is currently dead, and my wallet only has enough for taxi fare," Ezra spoke earnestly.

"It's fine. You do not need to pay me for this. Also, I can give you and your cousin a lift in my car later. The driver will drop you off at your houses." Maximillian replied, while looking carefully at Ezra.

"No, I will pay. I'll cover your share too. You can't always be treating me. As for the offer to drop me off, I can't ask you to do that. I might run late today, and you'd have to wait until late for me to finish."

"I can wait," Maximillian spoke calmly, his eyes looking away as Ezra stared at him upon hearing that. There was an obvious hint of a smile in Ezra's voice as he responded, "Then I'll take up that offer. You can drop by for dinner if you'd like. My parents wanted me to bring you over again, this time for dinner preferably."

Ezra's mother was a journalist, and his father was a novelist who mainly focused on the genre of high society drama. Naturally, they felt curious about Maximillian, someone who could be considered a noble in their city.

Maximillian nodded, his eyes fixed on Ezra. "Hey, Ezra... I'm curious. Does Louis often visit you on set?"

Ezra flashed a knowing smile. "Oh, him? Yes, actually. He visits me quite often. We're pretty close, y'know."

"I see." Maximillian tore open the packaging, unintentionally applying more force than necessary. The pastries nearly slipped from his grasp, but he caught them swiftly, placing them in the torn box, now serving as a rather pitiful makeshift plate.

Taking a bite of the pastry, Ezra savored the taste, a content smile on his lips. Without glancing at Maximillian, he spoke after swallowing. "Hey Max, I have a question."

"Hmm?" Maximillian's gaze lingered on Ezra, each time noticing another accessory adorning the elaborate outfit, enhancing Ezra's overall appearance. He couldn't help but acknowledge how particularly good Ezra looked that day. Maximillian questioned whether it was the outfit or his own biased perception after the earlier realization.

"Do you intend to seek out another suitable partner to assist in navigating your family's succession wars?"

"It wasn't exactly a war, per se. Truth be told, I was the only one among my siblings who treated it as a competition before. I don't even know why I became so fixated on the idea of winning. It felt as if I were being manipulated into thinking that securing victory was my sole life goal." Maximillian replied rather absentmindedly.

"And it isn't anymore?"

"I don't really care anymore, I guess? Besides, Minerva is extremely capable. I was belated in realizing and acknowledging that she was the best option for the successor's seat all along. I can carve out my own future without it having anything to do with inheriting the family legacy. I'll also be overseeing some substantial subsidiaries of our company in the future, and those plans alone seem rather intimidating and exhausting."

"What an honest answer. That's nice, though. Very nice," Ezra smiled. "Are you not going to eat anything?"

"I will."

"After you're done staring at me?" Ezra gave Maximillian a very devious smile.

Maximillian took Ezra's hand in his, pressing it gently and playing with those long, elegant fingers. "Do you have anything else to ask?"

"I do, actually. I'm glad you're awake and in the know, probably thanks to Celeste, am I right?" Ezra chuckled, his gaze fixed on their entwined hands. "I want to ask, do I look good right now?"

"Very much so. I can't take my eyes away." Maximillian's blue eyes remained fixed on Ezra, a seriousness in his tone mirroring the intensity of his words.

"Do you want me?" Ezra continued asking with a light tone.

"I do."

"Are you mine now?" Ezra inquired with a hint of anticipation.

"Pretty much," Maximillian responded, an increasingly warm smile playing on his lips.

"Can I kiss you?" Ezra asked, his tone carrying a genuine seriousness.

Laughing, Maximillian gently pulled Ezra closer, their lips meeting in a tender kiss. That moment marked the beginning of their relationship – a subtle, soft, and romantic start to their journey. The ensuing year unfolded like a dream, seemingly perfect in its shared moments and budding love.

However, the idyllic atmosphere was abruptly shattered when tragedy struck. In the very year they embarked on their relationship, Ezra's mother unexpectedly passed away.