Chapter 5: We Meet Again

After a moment of standing still in astonishment, Maxwell's body reacted, he put his arms around Olivia's waist, pulled her in and reciprocated just as hard.

They were both out of breath when they eventually separated, the world around them seemed to rush back, complete with odd looks from passersby. The blaring horns of frustrated traffic which they had both caused and the lingering smell of burnt rubber from Olivia's sudden halt.

“Hi, I am Olivia Carter,” Olivia said, putting out her hand to shake Maxwell's.

Maxwell gazed at her for a moment, his hazel eyes widened with curiosity as much as astonishment. With a slow smile stretching over his features, Maxwell shook the hand she offered, “Well, that's definitely one way to share insurance information, my name is Maxwell Pierce,” he said in a low, rather husky voice.

Back at his company, as Maxwell stepped in through the glass doors, his mind reeled from the unexpected meeting that had occurred earlier that morning. The chilly air of the lobby rushed over him as the doors parted silently, a clear contrast to the warmth he still felt as a result of the encounter with Olivia.

Maxwell nodded distractedly to the greetings of the receptionist and security guard, as he got to the elevator. He scarcely noticed his journey to the top floor, his mind reeled back as he pondered deeply. ‘What are the odds I would meet her again?’ Maxwell asked himself excitedly.

He and Olivia attended the same high school, in the same class as well, but Maxwell was sure she did not know him. Back then Olivia was only interested in her grades, she had no friends and kept mostly to herself. It wasn't the first time he had kissed someone, but this was so different. Maxwell rearranged his tie, trying to gather himself together as the elevator doors opened to show luxurious carpets on the floor which housed his office.

As Maxwell opened his massive wooden door to his office, he discovered he was not alone. Pacing nervously in front of the floor to ceiling glass windows that provided a wide-angle view of the city was Henry, his longtime friend, mentor and Godfather.

To the east of the windows, the early morning sun shone on the glass and steel sides of the buildings next to each other. Their peaks reached high into the deep blue sky. In front of the glass windows opened the financial districts, it represented the city's economic strength as you could see the iconic clock tower of the old city hall, its old stone a distinct opposite to the news structures around.

The waterfront appeared to the south of the city, with the harbour being a hive of activity with pleasure boats and freight ships dotting its deep blue seas. In the distance, the expansive greenery of the city's best part which offered a welcome diversion from the city's rapid growth could be seen.

From the angle of Maxwell's desk, individuals seemed like little dots strolling along the sidewalks, while the cars looked like toys. The main street of the city cut the business area in half by running straight through the middle of it. In the middle of the tarmac and concrete, there was a buffer lined with trees that added some greenery.

Every day, the view got better, the city was always changing because of how light and shade reacted with it. By nightfall, the city would be a stunning show of thousands of bright lights, a beautiful display of urban beauty.

“Max,” Henry called out, relief evident in his voice and composure. “Where have you been? I've been trying to get in touch with you all morning?”

Maxwell hesitated, clearly taken aback. How could he explain what had happened to him that morning that had flipped his entire life upside down? Or the little accident that had delayed him and the encounter with Olivia that had him feeling warm and excited.

Maxwell moved towards Henry and enveloped him in a tight hug.

“Are you okay, Son?” Henry asked as he hugged Maxwell back, worry lines creasing his forehead.

With caution, Maxwell stated, “I'm okay, Henry. I just missed you. I also had an unexpected encounter on my way in,” he concluded, smiling again as his thoughts drifted back.

“I caught that,” Henry said smiling, “I definitely caught that smile. Are you seeing someone, Son?”

“No, I'm not.” Max replied, calmly, “And I have no idea what you are talking about,” Max said, feigning ignorance as he walked to his desk.

Before Henry could dig for more information, a subtle, yet hurried knock was heard at the door.

Without waiting for a response, Jack, the Chief Financial Officer of the company, walked in hurriedly, “I've been trying to reach you all morning, Mister Pierce?” he said, “it's the Oasis Merger, they are threatening to withdraw if our our offer isn't increased by fifteen percent.”

Maxwell's attention was divided as Jack dived into the specifics of the possible disaster while Henry took a seat to allow him focus on the issue at hand. A part of Maxwell was focused on the task at hand, his sharp intellect already creating plans of action as well as backup plans. The other part of him that he was unable to completely control remained on the crowded road, with Olivia in his arms.

He could not get rid of the feeling that something important has changed in his universe as he listened to Jack's worries. The merger, the business, and even the view from his office appeared to have somehow changed, as though he viewed it from a different perspective.

For the umpteenth time that day, Maxwell brushed his lips, almost without thinking. He committed to his memory to place a call to his private investigator to find out what Olivia Carter was up to now.

For the meantime, there remained work to be done, so Maxwell took a deep breath and pushed himself to concentrate on work with Jack.

Later on, Maxwell heard the notification of an incoming message, "I've set up a date for you tonight, be there by seven," it read, from Henry. "Not again, old man!" Maxwell exclaimed as he looked at the direction Henry sat, only for him to find the seat empty.

Later that evening, at exactly seven o'clock, Maxwell walked into The Duchess. It was the usual place Henry scheduled blind dates for him in the bid to get him to get married. Truthfully, Maxwell was tired of meeting all these shallow women whose only interest was the amount of billions he had in his bank account.

Since he was a regular there, the manager rushed towards him, greeting him cheerfully as he escorted him to his table where Ava Carter already sat waiting for him.

As soon as she sighted him, Ava discretely readjusted her yellow sunflower dress showing some cleavage, then she smiled brightly as Maxwell got to the table.

“Hi Mister Pierce, or can I call you Maxwell?” She asked, pausing briefly to hear his response.

“My name is Ava Carter, it's so nice to meet you,” she continued, smiling while stretching out her hand flirtingly, as Maxwell did not respond to her earlier question.

Maxwell ignored her stretched out hand, without sitting down, he said to Ava, his voice cold and disinterested, “order whatever you want, I'm not interested in you.”

“Put it on my bill, Mike,” Maxwell said to the manager, then he turned abruptly and walked out of the restaurant.