Brewing Trouble

The Lee Estate

Maxen's convoy rolled up the Lee's driveway, stopping before the mansion's grand entry staircase. The Lee Estate was a thirty-minute drive west of the metro, situated on top of a hill that faced the west side of the country where the main port was located.

From his car window, Maxen could see the glistening lights from the docked ships in the port and the busy logistics below with cranes lifting shipping containers off a ship and transferring them into the port.

It took a while for Maxen to gather himself, seemingly hypnotized by the simple grandeur of the orchestrated light show below the hill before stepping out of the car. He really didn't want to attend this "Thanksgiving Dinner"; however, the Lees and the Suis had a century old friendship with each generation of Lees and Suis strengthening and maintaining their ties that Maxen would never dare miss a single invitation from them even if he's sick of attending such gatherings. Another reason for him to attend was to see Patriarch Lee, whom he was fond of.

He stood on his spot and took in the beauty of the French colonial mansion of the Lees. One had to take a long flight of stairs to get inside the mansion. Its four columns, doubled the mansion's height that every inch of the exterior of mansion screamed power and prestige, giving it a vibe akin to the White House.

Just like the Lins, the Lees were one of the oldest and richest families in Nisia. Their main business: cargo and shipping.

"I don't think the Lees has any idea about what this Lance guy is up to, Your Highness," Jack whispered as they took a step on the flight of marble stairs. His words made Maxen halt on the landing, his hands dipped into his pockets. He scanned the area and saw a few ushers waiting for the guests by the door. He swiveled around to face Jack behind him and whispered in his assistant's ears, "I think they know it, that's why they're keeping him." Maxen smirked, turned around and headed to the double oak doors. The ushers knew who he was and naturally did not ask him to show his invitation, opening the doors straightaway for the country's prince.

Upon entering the foyer, Maxen was welcomed with a hall filled with people dressed to the nines swaying to the soft jazz music courtesy of a live band and bottomless trays of cocktails that made rounds, making sure that the guest would get their fill of alcohol throughout the night. He scanned the area and his gaze landed on the second floor, where the king was speaking with the Lee Patriarch on the foyer where the double grand staircase lead to.

Maxen gave the two men above a curt nod before grabbing a flute of champagne for himself from a waiter. He took a sip, zeroing in his sight on the commissioned family portrait of the Lees hanging from the wall on the left-wing staircase. If his hunch was right, then based on what they dug up on Lance Go's trail, trouble must be brewing under the Sui's noses and one of the Lees were keeping it under wraps.

He walked up the flight of stairs and joined the group consisting of the most powerful men in the country: The king, Patriarch Lee, and Ava's father; Adler Lee. From an onlooker's point of view, the sheer volume of aristocracy oozing from those men was intimidating enough that nobody would dare interrupt their exclusive small circle, except for a prince like Maxen who was welcomed with a warm smile by Patriarch Lee.

Growing up with no memory of his grandfather, Patriarch Lee was the perfect substitute for the role. His favorite hobby was fishing, so naturally, he taught Maxen how to drive a yacht and how to fish.

"Look who's here, I thought you're going to snub your old man tonight, Your Highness. By the way," Patriarch Lee nudged Maxen's waist and whispered, "I heard about a girl. Can show your old man a photo?"

Maxen cleared his throat and clank his flute with Patriarch Lee's. "Her beauty is for my eyes only, Patriarch Lee." Maxen's words earned a burst of booming laughter that reverberated in the mansion making everyone shift their gazes to the four men's direction. How could Patriarch Lee not miss the hint of overprotectiveness - borderline greed - laced in Maxen's tone?

"Aiyoo, look at this boy. What are you doing at this party here then? Go back to your beauty and make great grandchildren for your old man," Patriarch Lee chided, slapping Maxen's behind. All the while, King Alistair smiled at the old man's words yet his eyes showed something else which Adler did not miss.

Seeing his friends, Maxen raised his glass towards them before he faced Patriarch Lee and said, "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen. Enjoy the rest of the night." He was a step away from Patriarch Lee when Maxen swiveled on his heel and whispered something in Patriarch Lee's ears, bolting away right after.

"Ahahahahaha! He said he'll give me a little Sui by the end of the year," Patriarch Lee shared, earning a nervous laugh from King Alistair.

Across the hall, Maxen joined his friends: Oliver, Ava, Wyatt and Emily. He sneered when he realized he was the only one without a partner by his side. He fished his phone from his pocket and made a pouty face with the two pairs of lovers behind him wondering what the heck was going on. When has Maxen gotten so vain to even take a groupfie? When he was done with his message, he hid his phone back and grinned like a fool to his friends.

"Oh. God. He's dating someone new. Poor, Fiona," Ava rolled her eyes, ridiculing the eternal bachelor of the group. Hearing his wife's statement, Oliver could not help but ask, "That fast? But you were just having lunch with Fiona yesterday?"

"Fiona and I are just friends," Maxen hissed at Ava who immediately taunted him with a question: "So, is she a friend too?"

Emily watched as Maxen's grip on the flute's stem tighten that it was almost at its breaking point and how he evaded Ava's line of questioning. Emily had a bad feeling that Maxen must have met Olivia in the auction last night. After all, she's the one who made the preparations for Ollie's small request to save a private room for him. She tightened her hold on Wyatt's arm when a flash of genius struck her: Maxen knew that Olivia is Ollie's sister and now that's going to be a big problem.

Emily's grip on Wyatt made him scrunch his brow. His attention moved from Emily to see what made her so nervous that he ended up tracing her line of sight. As if he could read what Emily was thinking, he squeezed her hands and now the two were sharing a knowing look.

Just as Maxen was about to speak, his phone rang, shocking his friends with how his entire demeanor changed from an omnipotent prince to an excited puppy that got a treat from his owner. He excused himself and stepped inside the Lee's library. He scanned the room just in case there's another soul inside and thankfully there was none.

"Hey, gorgeous. Missed me already?" Maxen excitedly whispered, his hand covered his mouth and the phone's receiver. But his excitement immediately dwindled down when he heard Olivia ask him in her signature toneless irritated voice across the line. Maxen asked himself in his thoughts: what has he done this time?

"What is this stoneface doing outside my apartment?"