THIRD PERSON POV
Maxie sat in her living room, lounging on the couch as she gazed out the window at the afternoon sun. Her phone rang, breaking the silence, and she glanced at the screen to see Tory's name flashing on the call ID. She cleared her throat, feeling a flutter in her chest, before picking up the call.
"Hello, there," she said, trying to sound casual.
"Hey, Maxie. How are you doing?" Tory's deep voice asked, sending a shiver down her spine.
"I'm good. How about you?" Maxie replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
"I'm fine, except I would like to take you out," Tory said, his voice low and smooth.
Maxie's eyes widened, and she coughed, trying to compose herself. "Okay," she said finally, her voice a little breathless.
"Are you free right now?" He asked, his voice filled with anticipation.
Maxie hesitated for a moment before responding, "I'm not really busy."
"Okay, I'll come pick you up," Tory said, his voice firm.
Maxie smiled, feeling a thrill of excitement. "No problem, I'll share my location with you," she said, and the call ended.
As she sat there, still smiling, Marcus walked into the living room, his eyes curious. "Who was that on the phone?" he asked, his voice casual.
Maxie tried to brush him off, rolling her eyes and attempting to walk away. But Marcus was persistent. "You're my sister, and I'm asking you who was on the phone," he said, his voice firm.
Maxie burst out laughing, holding her stomach as if she was going to pass out. "Marcus, just go out with one of your girlfriends and stop being so petty," she said, her voice still shaking with laughter.
Marcus's expression turned skeptical, but Maxie just smiled sweetly and continued to laugh, trying to deflect his attention...
Maxie got to her room, flung open her wardrobe, scanning the rows of clothes with a critical eye. "Oh my God, this is too stunning," she breathed, her fingers trailing over the fabrics. "I need to dress up nice."
She began to rummage through her wardrobe, pulling out dress after dress, rejecting each one in turn. "No, no, no," she muttered to herself. "I need something that makes a statement."
And then, her eyes landed on a red short gown tucked away in the back of the closet. "Aha!" she exclaimed, a sly smile spreading across her face. "It's time for you to serve your purpose, my magic gown."
She slipped into the gown, feeling the soft fabric hug her curves. "Perfect," she breathed, striking a pose in front of the mirror.
As she was admiring her reflection, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't shared her location with Tory yet. "Oh no, I'm so forgetful," she exclaimed, picking up her phone and sending him a text with her location.
With that taken care of, she turned her attention back to her appearance. She applied a coat of lip gloss, added some jewelry, and picked out a bag to match her outfit.
A few minutes later, her phone beeped, signaling that Tory was outside. "Okay," she texted back, giving herself a final once-over in the mirror.
As she was about to leave, she remembered to text Sharon. "Hey B, I'm going out with the stranger today. Wish me luck," she typed, grinning to herself as she hit send.
As Maxie stepped outside, she couldn't help but notice the sleek car parked in front of her. "Oh my God, fine shit," she muttered to herself, impressed. "Nice car."
She walked towards Tory, who was approaching her with a smile. "You look extremely beautiful," he said, his eyes locked on hers.
Maxie's cheeks flushed, and she smiled. "Would you keep me waiting outside forever?" she teased.
Tory chuckled and led her to the passenger seat, opening the door for her. "Not if I can help it," he said, his voice low and smooth.
As she slid into the seat, Tory closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. "Well, we have two places to choose from," he said, starting the car. "Do we go to a nice restaurant or a nice wine bar?"
Maxie raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Mmm, for a girl like me, I'd always go for a club," she said, her voice playful. "But since that's not among the options, let's go to a wine bar then."
Tory laughed, a deep, rich sound. "Alright," he said, smiling. "A wine bar it is."
As he drove, Maxie couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. She had a feeling this was going to be an interesting evening.
As they pulled up to the front of the Lavida wine bar, Maxie's eyes widened in awe. "Oh my God, this place suits my taste," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Try smiled and set his hand on hers, his touch sending a spark of electricity through her body. "It will be my pleasure," he said, leading her into the classy and elegant interior of the wine bar.
As they were seated at a table, Maxie couldn't help but be impressed by the sophisticated atmosphere. She gazed around the room, taking in the sleek decor and the soft hum of conversation.
Tory picked up his menu, going through it wen Maxie teased him, "Hm, not to be rude, but this is so expensive for a writer." Maxie's eyes met his, and she laughed.
"You people underestimate writers," Tory said with a smile. "We do a great job, and we get paid fine."
Maxie chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Okay, I think I'll become a writer too," she said, her voice teasing.
Tory's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "I think you'd be a natural," he said, his voice low and smooth.
The waiter arrived to take their order, and Maxie listened intently as Tory recommended a few wines. She was impressed by his knowledge and expertise, and she found herself feeling more and more at ease in his presence.
As they sipped their wine, Tory's eyes locked onto hers, and he said, "Remember, I told you the next time I see you, I'd ask what you do for work."
Maxie raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye. "Yeah, let me watch you try," she teased.
Tory chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Okay, let's try something else then. What's your full name?"
Maxie hesitated, and then asked, "Ah, okay, what's your full name?" Throwing the question back to him seriously
Tory's expression turned sly. "I'm not going to tell you until you tell me where you work," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Maxie rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "I just work for a big company. It's a company you should know because it's big," she said, trying to deflect the question.
Tory's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Okay, try me," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism.
As Maxie was about to reveal the name of the company, her gaze drifted across the room, and her eyes landed on a familiar figure. Diana was sitting at a table, looking elegant and poised, and Maxie's attention was drawn to her. She followed Diana's gaze and saw Beatrice walking towards her table, a warm smile on her face.
Maxie's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the scene unfold. They didn't seem to be discussing business, and the way Beatrice was laughing and chatting with Diana suggested a more personal connection.
Tory's voice broke into her thoughts, and Maxie turned back to him, trying to compose herself. "Hey, Max, are you fine?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Maxie nodded, trying to brush off her distraction. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just give me a minute," she said, forcing a smile.
As the waiter poured the wine, Tory said, "Well, our wine is here. Let's test qit."
Maxie smiled and took a sip, but her mind was still on Beatrice and Diana. Why were they having lunch together? And what was the nature of their relationship?
Just as she was about to turn her attention back to Tory, he dropped a bombshell. "Well, my name is Tory Langley," he said, his eyes locked onto hers.
Maxie's world came crashing down around her. Langley? As in Ace Langley? The same Langley family that...?
Her eyes snapped back to Tory's face, and she felt like she'd been hit on the head. "What did you just say?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.