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.

wrong when she thought that she could get out of that

“I…”

even before she could finish her sentence,

me that I am not welcome here. Perhaps she thought I couldn’t afford to

manager’s voice was loud; it echoed

bit her lower lip.

you dare lie, Sarah,” Maximilian

able to finish her sentence when her manager’s palm landed on

speak that way to our customer. Of all people, you did that to Mr. Lee!” Sarah cupped her cheek and looked at her manager. “You shouldn’t have done

I swear I regret doing that…

your workplace,

manager opened the door and

forgive me, just this once… I promise not

before looking at her. “You will still get the whole month’s salary and your separation pay despite what happened. It’s the only

me…” Sarah begged as she cried in front of them. She rubbed her palms against one another

turned to Maximilian, who was looking at her with

now,” said the

that. She was willing to do everything to keep her

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

saw the old Maximilian—cold. She slowly let go

Now, her life was doomed. She lost her job in just a

for Maximilian Lee back then, now she regretted

really sorry. If I

his hand. “It doesn’t matter

The manager nodded agreeably. “How about Sarah’s suggestions, would you like to change

Despite her rudeness towards me, I still like her suggestions, so we will push through with that.”

I see. Then, what is your preferred time for your dinner

in the evening will

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

Maximilian checked his wristwatch.

you, Pete. My wife and I will see

the hall when the manager caught up

wife.” The manager smiled at him. “Please

couple of minutes to return 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

Victoria said before