Lightning-fast Connection

Inside the pocket room, Secretary Gail massaged her nose bridge to relieve her eyes from the strain of having to run through Olivia's schedule for the fourth time just to make sure everything was organized to a T. She then checked the time on her wristwatch which read that it was fifteen minutes before ten in the evening.

She stood up in her makeshift office; a small desk and a stool in the corner of the pocket room beside the window.

She cautiously tiptoed out of the pocket room and cringed when she saw Maxen splayed on the couch, deep in sleep. She was about to round the corner when she saw the remnants of Olivia's wrath: The flower petals scattered on the floor. So she tiptoed back to the kitchen and grabbed the dustpan and broom to clean it up before Olivia steps out of her office.

Finally, the clock struck ten in the evening and Olivia's series of meetings culminated. She gingerly opened the door, and instantly, a soft snore serenaded her ears, painting a smile on her lips and a crinkle at the corners of her eyes.

Instead of walking towards the living room, Olivia, who was followed by Secretary Gail, turned right to the kitchen where Jack and Yana stood in attention.

"You can retreat for the night," Olivia said to the three assistants who were half sleepy and half alert, ready to serve their masters' dinner. Upon hearing her command, she watched as Jack took hesitant steps out and away after he placed Maxen's change of clothes on the bar stool. One by one, the trio left Olivia's decoy apartment, giving Olivia and Maxen the much-needed privacy for their day.

Subconsciously, Olivia tapped her fingers on the marble kitchen island, seemingly lost in thought as her mind drifted back to her original plan: To be the headmistress of Pyxis which includes getting the last royal family on-board the Pyxis's web. However, now that she met Maxen and seeing how their lightning-fast connection was clouding her judgment, she's too confused as to what her next step would be.

The soft click of the main door closing snapped Olivia out of her trance, making her straighten her back in attention.

She tiptoed to the living room where Maxen's snore concerto was still playing and excitement cursed through her veins as she took out her phone, all prepared to take a video of the snoring little prince. She walked fluidly — silently and steadily, towards the couch Maxen dozed off. Olivia thought he must be very exhausted because even when the couch dipped as she sat down, his light snoring didn't stop.

She traced the angle on his straight-edge nose before moving up to air-brush his thick long eyelashes with her index finger and whispered, "What am I going to do with you, Max?"

Normally, Olivia would know on the spot what she wanted, but with her 'hormones' messing up with her, she could not rub off her adience towards the annoying and clingy little prince. The invisible magnetic force kept pulling them together. She frowned when a question popped into her mind: How could everything feel so right in the wrong ways?

Irked at her internal turmoil, Olivia gave up and leaned on the couch with her head resting on the top-edge that she was now facing the ceiling just like Maxen, except she's wide awake and Maxen was, well, deep in slumber.

When her mind stopped thinking, her heart started to make a list of its own. With every thump in her chest, she felt all the different kinds of emotions she went through for the last forty-eight hours. Each high and low of emotions formed a rolling knot in her gut that she started to feel terrified. Terrified of what else lies beyond if she would take another step towards Maxen. Everything felt too fast and too slow at the same time for a lot of things had happened in two days.

She felt today's activities started to cripple her too but her stomach started to churn, demanding for food and to her embarrassment, the sleeping little prince beside her was awakened by its grinding sound.

Maxen sprang from the couch and wiped his face with his palms.

"What time is it?" he asked as he cracked his neck left and right, the popping sound somehow turned Olivia on.

"Ehem," she cleared her throat when she felt heat crept up her neck. "Ten," she curtly replied and turned her face away from Maxen.

"Baaaby…" Maxen cooed in his just-woke-up voice when Olivia averted her gaze. He rubbed his index finger against the ball of Olivia's wrist, hoping to get a reply but failed. Afraid to poke the hungry bear, Maxen stood up and volunteered, "I'll heat the food."

Moments later, Olivia held the laughter that tried to escape her mouth because even with her back against him, the clanking of silverware painted her a picture of a clueless Maxen pretending to know the ins-and-outs of the kitchen. "Do you even know how to use a microwave, Your Highness?"

*Clang*

Olivia hunched, her hands covered her face, to stifle her laughter for she didn't want to further embarrass Maxen. She stood up and followed him into the kitchen but was met with Maxen's scowl.

"I know how to use a microwave but I won't use one. That's not healthy."

"Trust me, Your Highness. I've been using one for years and look at how healthy I am."

Maxen sized her up from head to toe and smirked before saying, "You're not healthy. Your nose bleeds... especially at pivotal moments." He switched the stove on and unceremoniously dropped the food from the plate into the pan. The fizz of the food hitting the hot pan made him so smug and proud that he glanced beside to say 'See. I told you I know what I'm doing,' only to be welcomed by Olivia's blush that darkened, including her ears too.

Before Maxen could utter a word, she kicked him on the shin that sent him limping.