The Heir

“YOU do have a great taste, Sarah,” said Maximilian without breaking eye contact. “I love your suggestions, and I would like that on our wedding anniversary to make my wife happy.”

Sarah was flattered to hear Maximilian said that. It only meant that she succeeded in pleasing him. Perhaps he would forgive her for mistreating him when he got there. But it would be better if he had already forgotten that.

“Oh, anything for you, Sir,” she said with a smile plastered on her face. “Anyway, how’s your wife? I was quite surprised when I learned that you and Victoria got married. You know… I thought you wanted to stay single.” Sarah tried to sound as casual as she can. She was cautious in every word that she said. Better to be safe than sorry.

“Victoria?” Maximilian smiled proudly. His eyes seemed to twinkle too—emotions that she had not seen before. “Well, she is quite busy with office work these days. But she is doing fine. And she remains as pretty as before.”

“Of course, she was our campus sweetheart back then.” And she could not help but wonder why a woman like Victoria married a man like him. Sarah wondered if Victoria ever felt regret choosing Maximilian like she felt now. Well, she would never know. “Send my regards to your wife. I hope we can see each other again.”

Maximilian’s lip twitched. She did not know why he did that. Well, he must find it absurd that the woman who was rude to him at first was now sending regards to his wife. Well, it was all part of the act. Sarah managed to smile.

“I will tell her. Maybe she will recall you. You were Victoria’s greatest rival, after all.”

Her mouth opened, but she decided to close it again. She had to control her anger, or else everything would go in vain. Sarah just took a deep breath and let out a short laugh.

That was the scene when the manager came back to Eden’s Hall after taking an important phone call.

“Again, Mr. Lee, I am sorry about that. There is a family emergency,” Sir Pete said apologetically.

“Oh, if it’s an emergency, then you should head home,” Maximilian told the manager.

“No need, Sir. My wife already settled it. Anyway, is everything okay? Do you want to add any details for the surprise dinner date?”

“I am happy with the details. You can proceed with that.” Maximilian turned to her with a poker face.

“That’s great to hear.” Sir Pete patted her shoulder and smiled. “You’ve done a great job, Sarah. Because you successfully pleased Mr. Lee, I will give you a salary raise and a promotion—”

“I don’t think so,” Maximilian chimed in, cutting the manager’s words.

Sarah abruptly turned in his direction.

“What do you mean, Mr. Lee?” Sir Pete asked with a knotted forehead.

“Sarah may have pleased me, but she had done something wrong.” Maximilian arched a brow. “Why don’t you tell your manager how you belittle me before when you saw me outside the restaurant as the doorman blocked my way?”

The manager grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from Maximilian.

“What is he saying, Sarah? What the hell happened?” Sir Pete asked through gritted teeth.

out of that mess smoothly. Maximilian only pretended

“I…”

could finish her sentence,

that I am not welcome here. Perhaps she thought I couldn’t afford to charter a place like

voice was loud;

lower lip. “Sir…

you dare lie,

not able to finish her sentence

you did that to Mr. Lee!” Sarah cupped her cheek and looked at her manager. “You shouldn’t have done that to him or to

regret doing that… I

Sarah! This is your workplace, and there is no place for your

door and called

just this once… I promise not to do it

get the whole month’s salary and your separation pay despite what happened. It’s the

cried in front of them. She rubbed her palms against

was looking at her with

now,” said the manager in a

Sarah could not just lose her job like that. She was willing to do everything to keep her place in that restaurant. She clutched on Maximilian’s leg

am so sorry for what I have done to you earlier. Please, help me, just this once. I have a family to

not speak nor move an inch. Sarah saw the old Maximilian—cold. She slowly let go of

security guards came inside the hall and dragged her out. Now, her life was doomed. She

Maximilian Lee back then, now she

really

wagged his hand. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s already settled,

Sarah’s suggestions,

her suggestions, so we will push through with that.” He

what is your preferred time for

in the evening

time. “If there is anything else that you need, you can

Maximilian checked his wristwatch.

and I will see you

was about to leave the hall when the manager caught up to

We prepared something for you and your wife.” The manager smiled at him. “Please wait for a while, and I’ll go

from the kitchen. After receiving the takeout food and wine, he left the restaurant. He then drove to the Griffith Group’s office to fetch Victoria. Just like before, Maximilian and his wife talked about how each other’s day went on their way home. Of course, he lied to her

said before getting off of the