"I want to go to a movie!"

It was Tuesday afternoon and Max had just arrived from the office. He'd been in and out of the house for some meetings the last couple of work weeks but he was always back by mid-afternoon. It was perfect timing since I was usually about done with writing by that time. We would hang out somewhere around the house or down at the beach. Then dinner and some cuddling. I'd try to wrap up what I'd written for the day while he went to work out in the gym downstairs before we'd meet up for a shower, then sex then sleep.

My stroll to the living room skidded to a halt at the sight of a tall, lanky man in a black suit talking to Max in the living room. He was older with his shaved head a salt and pepper gray, his features sharp and resolute. I'd spied one or two men who worked for Max discreetly appear once or twice but none of them ever came in to linger.

"Hi," I said with a polite smile, my hands automatically clasping behind my back.

Yes, I'm not six years old, but old habits die hard.

The man just nodded, completely expressionless.

"Babe, this is Matthews," Max said. "He's the head of my security team."

"Ah," I said as I came forward the rest of the way. "Someone to keep trouble out. Although some days I imagine it's more like keeping trouble safe from Max."

The corner of the man's mouth twitched but he kept a lid on the smile.

"These days, I don't have time for trouble," Max muttered, giving Matthews a meaningful side glance. "And you can thank her for it."

"Maybe not after I suggest taking Max out to a movie," I said. "Is he okay to go with me or should I also book four seats behind us for the security team? You might enjoy it. It's an action movie."

"I'm perfectly fine on my own but a movie?" Max asked, looking perplexed. "I can't remember the last time I've been in a movie theatre. Can't we watch it here? I'm sure I can pull some strings to get my hands on whatever movie you want."

"I want a standard movie date," I said with a shrug. "I've never been to one. It's on my list."

Max glanced at Matthews as if in question and the man just tipped his head. "I can take care of the matter for you."

I hesitated. "It's alright if you're busy. I can round up other people to go."

"That's not really a date if you're going with a bunch of people."

"Okay. I can ask some guy I know. Whoever's off work early, I guess."

Max swore softly under his breath and handed Matthews the folder he'd been clutching. "Just go and send me a report by tomorrow morning."

"I was just pulling your leg!" I said, repentant now. "Jeez, we can do it another time. I just wanted to go tonight because it's cheap Tuesdays."

Max raised a brow in confusion, ignoring Matthews who gave us a quick nod before excusing himself. "What exactly is cheap Tuesdays?"

"Cheaper tickets at the movies because it's a slow day," I said brightly. "If you ever go broke, Max, I'll know where you spent all your money."

He made a face. "Can we at least buy the seats around us? I don't need to be smelling what anyone else had for lunch in the two hours I'm sitting there."

I rolled my eyes and bounded over to him, taking his hand in mine. "That's part of the whole experience so no special accommodations. It's not going to be that bad."

"Even if that special accommodation means I get to touch you?" he asked, his tone dipping low, his eyes becoming hooded as he pulled me close to him. "In the dark, with people around us and none of them the wiser?"

"I'm pretty sure everyone knows what couples are really doing when they're fidgeting during the movie," I said with a laugh. "I've seen enough suspicious activity to know and we're not doing it!"

"And here I thought that was the best part of movie dates," Max said with an exaggerated sigh of regret. "I guess I'll have to content myself with debauching you for hours afterwards, in our big comfortable bed where you can scream in pleasure for as long as you want."

"Now, there's the spirit." I giggled and patted him on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's head out. I want to look around the mall first before the movie."

Max didn't seem very used to being in the mall. He at least dressed down in a pair of dark jeans, a gray short-sleeved shirt and black Converses. He still looked like a magnificent masculine specimen but definitely much more laid back and less bad-boy CEO-y type. Meanwhile, I wore a light blue summer dress with flowy sleeves and pale pink cherry blossom prints on it.

I stopped by random clothing stores to get a few more pieces to stretch out the very small selection I'd packed with me to Max's place. I could've gone back to Paige's townhouse but I didn't really feel like it.

Max came along to every store, dutifully giving feedback, holding my purse and grabbing for things out of my reach without a single complaint. Max wasn't very good at saying no to me.

"How does this look?" I asked him as I squished down a holographic baseball cap over my head. The iridescent material contrasted sharply with my flowing black hair. "It's very trendy this summer."

"It looks like you have half a disco ball on your head," he said as he straightened the brim.

I grinned and took my cellphone out. "Take a picture of me. I'll send it to my Mom. I'll tell her I'm getting her a matching one."

Max held the phone up but instead of just focusing it on me, he steered it around so that he was standing next to me in the picture, his head bent low to fit his face in the frame along with mine. I was too surprised that I barely registered the shutter sound.

"I can't send that to my Mom!" I said, snagging the phone back from him. "She's going to ask who you are!"

Max picked up a ridiculously oversized pair of women's sunglasses and slipped them on. "Well, I've got a name. In fact, I've got quite a mouthful of it. I'm sure you can manage to spell it all right."

"Nah, that's too hard," I said flippantly. "Maybe I'll just caption it something like 'My One-Summer-Stand'. Although 'My One-Month-Stand' is probably more accurate."

Max raised a brow, grinning. "Try it. I dare you. I want to see what your Mom has to say about that."

"You know what I mean, Max!"

"Actually, I don't."

Since I couldn't have a serious conversation with him wearing sunglasses the size of saucers, I reached up and took them off. We were in a quiet corner of the store and since it was an earlier weeknight, it was even quieter.

"If I start broadcasting pictures of us, or even mention your name casually, all this becomes real," I said. "Your romantic life is a lucrative topic for gossip rags. It's not going to take long before the rest of the city clues in on who you've been getting busy with."

"How different is this from when you proposed to date me the first time around?" he asked.

"That was different and honestly, I hadn't thought it through at that time," I admitted. "But people are going to talk and I don't know that you want that kind of speculation."

"We've shown ourselves to your cousin and her boyfriend and I don't imagine they're the most discreet people we know," he argued. "And I've introduced you to all my close friends. It's a little late to worry about speculation now."

"I didn't ask you to do either of those things," I protested.

"I didn't say you did."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I don't have a problem with this," Max said, closing the gap between us. "The world can speculate all it likes. I like being with you too much to give it up."

His voice had softened and so did mine.

"You're finally going to get tagged for having a girlfriend," I said, cupping the side of his face. "Doesn't that scare you just a little bit?"

"There are bigger things to be scared of," he said quietly. "You as my girlfriend isn't one of them."

I clutched the side of his shirt. "I'm really more like your late summer fling."

"You're my girlfriend," he insisted, kissing the top of my head. "Stop giving it different names."

I couldn't resist a stupid smile. "Tell that to the press."

"I will when they ask." He slung his arm around me and picked up a second holographic cap. "Now, let's go pay for these. I'm sure your Mom's going to love it."

The evening turned out so much better than planned. We eventually made it to the movies but not before spending a half hour at the arcade. The last time I'd spent time in one was when I took my brothers out to the mall last summer.

Max was a little more reluctant to poke around, muttering something about us not being in high school.

"You're feeling your age, aren't you?" I asked with mock sympathy. "I'm sorry. I should've remembered you're an old man."

"Old man?" he repeated with a scoff. "You call me that after I kept you up for two hours in bed last night."

"That's just stamina," I said with a shrug. "You've had years of training, after all. You're like an athlete except in bed."

That made Max straighten his already broad shoulders. "I don't hear you complaining. I'm confident I'm in better shape than some of the weak-chinned pups in here."

"I didn't say I was complaining," I said with a snort. "And you're right. You're a man in your prime. Your age and experience serve you well."

"I say it serves both of us well." Max was a little growly as he snatched me up against him, glaring at two teen boys who were watching us. We were huddled in front of a galaxy-shooting game with no plans to move anytime soon.

"Go play something else," Max told them before turning back to me. That hungry look was back in his eyes, warming me all over. "You drive me crazy with your teasing."

"Maybe but I think you love it just a little," I said with a saucy grin, running up my fingers into his hair only to slip them down the blonde length. His hair was down today, simply tucked behind his ears and curling slightly around the nape of his neck. "I think you're having fun and this might seem strange to say but for a man with your reputation for fun-seeking, Max, I don't think you've enjoyed yourself in a good long while."

"Writers are dangerous people," Max murmured before brushing a kiss on my lips. "You either see too much or you fill in the gaps with words that are sometimes too close to the truth."

I studied his face, knowing that wasn't a careless or teasing comment. "What's your story, Max?"

His lips quirked. "Which one? I've got many."

But he had no time to tell me because the alarm I'd set on my phone to remind us of the movie went off.

We hastened to get a big tub of popcorn to share, individual tumblers of pop and a bag of M&Ms.

We lucked out and found an empty seat next to our two reserved ones at the end of the middle row. Max put my shopping bags in the seat between himself and the guy next to him.

Max looked too big for the seat as tall and broad as he was but he said nothing about the barely there leg room. He put an arm on the back of my seat, snacked on popcorn and watched the admittedly over-the-top action movie. I loved these kinds of flicks—eye-rollingly predictable and one hell of a good time. It was the antidote to the often super-serious, super-complex nature of my plots. Things didn't always have to make sense.

"Max?" I whispered just as a building exploded on the screen.

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for doing this."

He leaned down to kiss my temple. "Anytime, babe."

***

"Aiko... I want you to come with me."

I opened my eyes to gaze at Max's face hovering above me.

Sweat beaded his forehead while his skin was flushed from the exertion.

It's been going on for almost two hours, after all.

"I'm about to," I said, surging my hips up to meet his next thrust. "You close?"

"Almost there," he said as he shifted angles that wedged him deeper inside me. I moaned at the fullness. "But I'm not talking about right now... Talking about Zurich."

"What's... in... Zurich?"

Having a sensible conversation when you were nearly insensible with arousal was next to impossible.

"A little gala," Max said, lifting my leg up until it draped over his one shoulder, allowing him to drive deeper with every snap of his hips. "We might be there... a few days."

I grunted what sounded like a yes to me because I couldn't form proper words in this state. Not when I was clutching Max's shoulders, trying to anchor myself down on the bed as my climax came white hot and fast. Max only lasted a few seconds longer, his low groan filing the room as he shuddered above me, sweaty and sweet.

He took me with him as he rolled over the bed, securing me against him with an arm around my waist.

"Max?" I said sleepily, curling my leg around his thigh to keep him close.

"Yes?"

"What am I going to wear?"

"Oh. I'm sure we'll find you something."

A day later, I boarded Max's private jet with a precious dress from Vienne Couture. Vivienne Cartwright picked it out for me and had it custom-fit to my size when Max took me to see her the day after he told me about the trip. She was apparently a revered couture designer and although I fussed and fumbled trying to pick out something I liked, in the end she selected a piece for me that even I couldn't refute. I thought it might be a bit overkill but it was too pretty for me to ignore and Max promised he was going to be in a tux to match me.

Max was definitely becoming a first of many things for me—first kiss, first-time sex, first boyfriend, and now my first taste of the stylish, jet-setting lifestyle.

So I ditched my usual holiday uniform of denim cutoffs, a T-shirt and flip-flops. I still wanted to be comfortable—just a little more put-together than usual—so I put on a sleek pair of dark skinny jeans, a floaty white top and rose-colored pointed flats. Max echoed the casual vibe with a pair of relaxed white jeans, a chambray shirt and his white Converses, his hair in a bun.

It was a long flight but I couldn't rest for the first four hours, busy as I was poking around at all the luxurious amenities and asking the crew (and some of Max's security people) all kinds of questions. Max just smiled, attended to some work on his laptop and let me do my 'research'. It was fascinating, if not a little mind-boggling because this was a world I never had access to before. There was so much to learn.

Then Max officially made me a member of the mile-high club in the lavish master suite that rivalled any five-star hotel. It was interesting trying to keep my voice down knowing that a handful of people were just on the other side of the door, working away and trying to pretend I wasn't getting ravished by their boss.

I napped, stayed in bed to write a little, and then napped for the rest of the trip until Max gently woke me up just shortly before we landed.

I'd been to Paris and London on a couple of family trips when I was younger but nowhere else in Europe. Switzerland had always been in my bucket list and now I was checking it off in quite a style.

A limo was waiting for us at the airport. It took us to the heart of old-town Zurich and into this row of old, townhouse-style buildings I didn't realize right away were all connected to make one of the city's most unique and expensive hotels. Everything was steeped in history and architecture, elegant yet curious at the same time. There was a bold mix of visuals and textures—from rustic wooden beams and medieval stone walls to centuries-old frescoes and sleek modern lines. The hotel felt like a walk back through time, capturing different eras of art and design and somewhat managing to make them all seem like they belonged together.

The penthouse suite was waiting for us and from its rooftop balcony, I could see so much of the city. From not too far beyond the old-fashioned buildings, the lake and the alpine mountain range looked like a postcard.

I stood there for God knows how long, grinning myself silly as I breathed in the fresh air and soaked in the views.

I heard the click of a camera shutter and I turned around and found Max standing by the doorway, taking shot after shot of me with his DSLR even as I laughed and beckoned him over.

"I love this," I said to him as I wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him close for a quick kiss.

"Mmm... I love this too," Max said as he kissed me more deeply. He broke away a little and grinned. "I'm glad you came with me. I didn't think I needed this until I saw you standing here with that smile on your face."

"I'm glad you let me tag along," I said, slipping my arm behind his waist and turning so we could both look out at the magnificent view. "I don't mind living a very different kind of life for a little while."

"Get used to it. It won't feel this different forever," he murmured against my ear before leaning forward to take more pictures of the landscape and preventing me from latching on to that statement for further inquiries.

I knew something was changing between me and Max.

I would be blind not to notice as engrossed as I was by human behavior and all its tells and tricks. At some point, this started becoming less casual than when it first began and just because we weren't talking about it yet didn't mean it wasn't happening.

Words would come later.

They always did in the face of something unfamiliar and unpredictable.

After dining al fresco on the rooftop during sunset, Max and I were too tired from traveling to do more than snuggle and sleep.

The next day was a different story because we spent most of it sightseeing. I offered Max the chance to go off and attend to some business. I was half-listening when Stephen, Max's assistant, briefed him on some calls and inquiries that had come in from Zurich while we were flying.

Stephen didn't seem to know what to make of my presence after he was first introduced to me at the airport. He was a small, wiry man somewhere in his early forties with an almost nervous manner about him. He was efficient though and had a swift answer for every one of Max's questions plus details. He appeared anxious but I suspected it was probably just an outward manifestation of his keen focus on the hundred or so things he had on his plate, none of which suffering from a lesser degree of importance. Curled up in the couch next to Max, I just smiled at the man, put my headphones on and started to type in my laptop, secretly outlining a character similar to Serious, Skittish Stephen. I had a place for him in my new story.

This was sometimes an issue with meeting new people when you were a writer. It sometimes didn't end with a hi and bye. Sometimes, there was something about a person you just wanted to capture—mannerisms, appearance, speech—that it could be a tad bit creepy intently studying someone you'd just met and trying to pass it off as nothing.

So anyway, back to those calls before I thoroughly went off tangent, I knew Max had a bunch of people wanting to meet up with him in Zurich. I didn't want to impede his schedule by dragging him along to places he'd probably seen many times but he insisted his entire day was free and that he would take me wherever I wanted to go.

Max dismissed his security and spent the morning strolling around with me along the cobblestone grounds of old town Zurich, looking at everything from chocolate shops and small art galleries to local food haunts. Everything seemed old and new at the same time, vibrant and original, charming and cultured.

We found ourselves in Limmatquai around lunch and after grabbing some food in one of the guildhalls, we continued exploring the promenade that runs along the Limmat River. We went into some churches and museums until we had to head back late in the afternoon to get ready for the gala.

I opted out of having a hairdresser and stylist come in to help me—I honestly didn't know that was a thing normal people did—and settled for something simple that wouldn't compete with my dress.

Vivienne had picked out a shimmering floor-length wrap dress with long elegant sleeves and a beaded belt that gave the silhouette a sleek hourglass figure, flattering my moderate curves. The slinky, figure-hugging fabric almost seemed see-through except for the intricate crystal beading that made the material look like a cascade of stars spilled over my alabaster skin. I wore no jewelry other than the small diamond studs my father gave me on my high school graduation. I swept my black hair up into a softened, unadorned bun, letting just a few tendrils frame my face. I dabbed a light layer of base to even out my complexion, brushed on some healthy but natural color on my cheeks, a smoky pewter shade on my lids (the only eye makeup trick I knew that flattered my hooded eyes) plus a hundred layers of mascara, and a soft rosy balm on my lips.

The only time I dressed up to this extent was prom years ago so I was a little out of practice getting comfortable in the kind of dress you worry you'd wreck in less than five minutes after putting it on. I kept adjusting the neckline, anxious that I was going to flash my boobs at the red carpet (which Max hadn't told me about until after I got out of the shower), and tried walking around in my nude heels until my arches contorted themselves to the shape (even though it was only three inches high).

"You're incredibly beautiful tonight," Max said when he came up behind me as I stood inspecting myself in the full-length mirror.

I wrinkled my nose and smiled. "I can clean it up once in a while."

Max quirked his brows in amusement. "Are you shy, Aiko?"

"No," I said with a deep exhale. "Just a little uninitiated in the ways of the high-rollers."

Max laughed and pressed a kiss on the curve of my neck. "You don't have to be initiated. Just enjoy yourself."

It was a little nerve-wracking in the beginning especially as we pulled up in front of the Zurich Opera House in a gleaming black town car. There was a mix of press, security and beautifully-garbed guests smattered on the front steps of the white and gray neo-classical stone building glowing in the twilight. Max had told me a little background on the event but when he summarized it as a 'fancy recognition ceremony for global finance giants', I hadn't quite imagined it to be this glamorous or high-profile. I honestly didn't ask many questions. I just assumed it was either a sterile conference center with some appetizers and cocktails or one of those big corporate Christmas parties my father's hospital would hold every year. I actually mentioned to Vivienne when she was outfitting me that I might be a tad bit overdressed. The woman just looked at me with an expression that asked me if I was for real before telling me to just trust her.

"Honey, come on," Max gently prompted, slipping my hand over his arm. I was apparently frozen standing by the car door, probably looking a bit like deer in headlights.

Max squeezed my hand. "I've got you."

You're fine, Aiko. Just fine. You're not going to drown in the crowd. Max has fine shoulders you can hang on to.

I took a deep breath, flashed Max and wobbly smile and tipped my chin up.

The trek up the stairs felt like an obstacle course where I had to accomplish smiling at everyone who looked my way while trying to stay upright in my shoes that I prayed wouldn't catch the hem of my dress.

We constantly stopped to greet people Max knew. He had to introduce me in every conversation that eventually, the only sentence ringing in my head was "This is my girlfriend, Aiko Bradley."

He got pretty used to that statement real quick, that's for sure.

Then there was the press, relentless as ever.

Many had good, relevant questions for Max but there were definitely a handful of nosy ones. It seemed like the word 'girlfriend' was some kind of detonator, clearing the way for a trillion questions to rain down on us.

"Can you tell us more about her?" one really pushy reporter asked Max just as we were turning away to continue along.

I stopped, turned to look at the man, and gave him my most winning smile. "When you stop talking about her like she's not a foot away from you, we might. For now, enjoy your evening."

"Told you," Max murmured to me as we reached the front doors. "Queens don't need to be initiated. The world just simply bows to her will."

I smirked. "Extravagant praise but I'll take it."

I wasn't really being tart but I was proud of myself for that moment. I didn't stammer or shake in fear. I didn't feel like I was short of oxygen, flailing for a lifeline.

In fact, I did feel for a second like I was at the top of the world.

And it felt great.

It felt safe enough and I could live with that.

Inside, the Opera House was resplendent with the gilded Rococo ceilings and red plush seats. It was straight out of history books back to a time of opulence and high society.

Max and I were escorted to our seats among the first few rows but it was another half hour before we were all settled in for the evening's ceremonies.

There were a lot of names and awards being handed out along with some breaks in between but it wasn't until after a short video later on in the evening that I fully understood why we were here.

An older gentleman came to the podium to address the crowd.

"This year's recipient of one of the greatest honors in this industry is a man well known for his fearlessness and fervor when it comes to both life and business. But as he shows with both, there is nearly nothing that cannot be accomplished without risk and unwavering determination and he demonstrated this with the Forked Road Foundation. In the past five years, this non-profit, personally funded organization has provided tools and a support system to youth at risk in over thirty countries all across the globe, connecting them to job and personal growth opportunities. The foundation provides a multitude of initiatives from housing and rent subsidy programs, to zero-interest finance platforms, to trade skills training and job placement. To this day, it has extended its assistance program to over sixty-thousand beneficiaries with a recently announced plan to expand in ten more countries in the next twenty-four months."

The man gestured to the screen just as the video rolled. It was only about thirty-seconds long but the montage of shots of teens and young adults transitioning from their dire situations—may it be in prison or just sheer poverty—to better avenues in life was bittersweet and touching.

The closing shot—Max, in what looked like a small garment shop somewhere exotic, was putting on a stylish woven hat and tipping his head in a dramatic bow to a trio of young men (makers of the hat) who were happily grinning and clapping—made me choke back a sob.

"This man needs no introductions but he deserves our respect and appreciation for all the work he'd done bettering young lives and changing fates. Ladies and gentlemen, our Global Philanthropist of the Year is none other than Maximilian Croft."

Loud applause rang out in the auditorium, jolting me back into reality.

I glanced at Max and found him looking right at me with those piercing blue-gray eyes, his brows furrowed slightly in concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his hand covering mine.

"Are you kidding me?" I blurted out. "Of course, I'm okay. Just freaking proud of you, that's all."'

"That's good." Max grinned and started to rise. "I'll be right back."

Before he left, he bent down to kiss me on the lips just as the music and the applause got louder.

I waited, giddy and a little short of breath, as he made his way to the stage to receive the award.

The man couldn't possibly be real.

From his sharp black tux that did nothing to conceal the power of his physique to the neat low bun of his dirty blond hair, he looked like a surfer demigod favoring mere mortals with a visit and a chat. He oozed charm and charisma (and a few billion dollars) and apparently had a heart of gold to boot.

And he's smiling right at you while the whole world is watching.

"Thank you, everyone," Max said into the microphone. "My work with Forked Road is deeply personal. I've met many amazing people who lived through some of the most challenging circumstances I could imagine and I wondered what it could take to change the course of one's life and who would be there to provide that option. That's all we can hope for when we do what we do in this team. Our destiny, at the end of the day, remains in our hands, ours to do with as we choose. All we can be is a choice for those people out there."

Max went on to thank a handful of staff who were deeply involved in the project before mentioning his family for probably the only second time in all the weeks I'd known him.

"I don't do it much but I'd like to thank my family for putting up with me through my very restless years," he said with a slight smirk. "I wouldn't have gotten here, to this chance at being able to help, if they didn't have me patched up after every broken arm and broken rule."

"I also want to thank my friends for their endless support—you know who you are and all that you've done for me," Max added. "Finally, I want to thank you, Aiko."

Uh, what now?

My heart pounded hard in my chest as I felt all attention turn to me even without me peeling my eyes away from Max.

"All of this happened before you but it'll continue with your inspiration," he said, smiling at me from across the stage. "Because you do your share of changing fates in the best way you know how and I would never want you to forget that. I'm proof of it."

Well.

That was some declaration.

Slowly, some air returned to my lungs, probably around the same time Max made his way back to me.

"We're in serious trouble, you and I," I said to him as he settled back into his seat.

He just grinned and pressed a soft kiss on the back of my hand. "The best kind of trouble I've found so far."

***

So, what do you think?

It's one of those chapters that showcase how deeply they're starting to feel, how they seem to just be happy together.  I also love how Max tries to accommodate Aiko's ideas of a 'normal' relationship even though he's not a very normal kind of man. And I love the fact that while they're cautious, they're not shying away too much from acknowledging what they're starting to have. I also love that Max seems to be the more insistent one when it comes to that. 

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Make sure to vote and comment to let me know!

XOXO,

Ninya

♪♪♪ Chapter Soundtrack: How Would You Feel by Ed Sheeran ♪♪♪

You are the one girl
And you know that it's true
I'm feeling younger
Every time that I'm alone with youWe were sitting in a parked car
Stealing kisses in the front yard
We got questions we should not ask butHow would you feel, if I told you I loved you?
It's just something that I want to do
I'll be taking my time, spending my life
Falling deeper in love with you
So tell me that you love me tooIn the summer, as the lilacs bloom
Love flows deeper than the river
Every moment that I spend with you
We were sat upon our best friend's roof
I had both of my arms round you
Watching the sunrise replace the moonHow would you feel, if I told you I loved you?
It's just something that I want to do
I'll be taking my time, spending my life
Falling deeper in love with you
So tell me that you love me too