CHIARA POV
It had been a week since I started staying in Maximo's condo, and I was relieved to see that he wasn't as cold towards me anymore. The fact that I could now walk on my own made things easier as well. As for Alexa and Sanya, I had brushed off their suspicions by telling them that I went on a vacation alone. However, deep down, I knew they didn't fully believe me, especially since they had already suspected that I was with Maximo. Thankfully, they had stopped bothering me about it.
I had also informed my secretary that I wouldn't be able to go to work for the time being. This whole situation caught me off guard, and I honestly hadn't expected any of it. But what surprised me even more was the fact that Maximo was the one taking care of the household chores, considering I was still recovering and had difficulty moving around. It felt strange yet comforting at the same time.
Although I was starting to feel better, I still couldn't bring myself to go back home just yet. It was nice being here with Maximo, and we were starting to appear like live-in partners. We had fallen into a comfortable routine, which made me hesitant to disrupt our newfound closeness.
As I sat in the living room, engrossed in the television, I felt the weight of someone sitting down beside me. Without even turning my head, I instinctively knew it was Maximo. He glanced at me before turning his attention back to the television.
"What's your plan now?" he asked, genuine curiosity lacing his voice. I remained facing forward, my gaze fixed on the television, hiding my reaction.
"Are you asking me to leave? I'll go home later, don't worry, Luis," I playfully replied, purposely using his second name, Luis, as he always referred to me as Mia.
A sigh escaped his lips, and just as I expected him to prod me to leave, he surprised me by uttering, "You can stay here if you want." Instantly, I turned to face him, adjusting my seat to fully engage with him.
"Don't tell me you don't want me to leave?" I teased, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.
He glanced at me and replied, "As if," with a playful grin of his own. Seeing that he was in a good mood, I couldn't resist taking advantage of the moment. Playfully, I straddled him, catching him off guard.
"What are you doing? I'm telling you, Mia, don't tease me or else-" he started to say, his words trailing off as I began grinding my hips against his bulge.
He closed his eyes, clearly enjoying the sensation, and a smile formed on my lips. I was about to lean in for a kiss when we were interrupted by a knock on Maximo's condo door. I saw him open his eyes, and realizing that we should probably attend to whoever was outside, I quickly moved away from him as he went to answer the door.
As Maximo reached for the doorknob, I could hear his voice filled with surprise. "Oh, Alex, what are you doing here?" he questioned the person standing outside. My ears perked up at the mention of Alex's name, instantly capturing my attention.
My heart skipped a beat upon hearing his familiar voice. "Let's drink!" Alex exclaimed, causing a rush of emotions to flood through my veins. He was my ex-boyfriend, and the last person I expected to see here, in Maximo's condo. I stood frozen, trying my best to remain unseen.
I attempted to sneak away to Maximo's guest room, hoping to avoid any awkward encounters. However, just as I was about to enter, Alex turned around and saw me. He looked me up and down, and I could sense his confusion upon seeing me here and especially in Maximo's clothes since I hadn't bought any for myself yet.
"Chimi?" he asked me, uttering his nickname for me. It was as if he couldn't believe his eyes, seeing me standing here.
"Alex" I don't know what to say other than call his name.
Maximo, sensing the tension in the air, approached us. He must have noticed our reactions and was curious to know if we knew each other. "Do you know each other?" he inquired, trying to piece together the puzzling situation.
In the midst of the conversation, Alex and I found ourselves caught off guard when Maximo questioned us. Alex, being straightforward and perhaps a bit uncomfortable, promptly replied, "She's my ex." On the other hand, I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to navigate this delicate situation, before simply stating, "I think so," simultaneously with Alex.
However, Maximo wasn't satisfied with our ambiguous responses and sought clarification. He turned to me, his eyes filled with curiosity, and asked me directly, "So, he's your ex?" In an attempt to avoid the awkwardness that hung in the air, I instinctively shrugged my shoulders, trying to downplay the significance of our past relationship. Revealing the intimate details of my history with Alex in front of Maximo was something I wanted to avoid at all costs.
Feeling overwhelmed by the turn the conversation had taken, I suddenly felt a strong need to escape the tension. Sensing my discomfort, I hurriedly excused myself, blurting out that I had to leave and let them enjoy their drinks. Without waiting for either of them to respond, I hastily made my way out of the room. As soon as I reached the safety of the guest room, I shut the door and collapsed into a nearby chair. I felt weak and emotionally drained, completely blindsided by this unexpected encounter with my ex.
I didn't expect to see Alex in this situation. It had been a while since we broke up and now, seeing him again brought back all sorts of emotions and memories. I had no idea how to handle this, but I knew I needed to steel myself for whatever lay ahead.
MAXIMO POV
"What kind of ex?" I asked Alexander, feeling a mixture of curiosity and unease. We were sitting in the cozy living room of my condo, engaged in a casual drinking session. The unexpected situation earlier had caught us both off guard.
Alex turned to face me, his expression guarded. "What?" he replied, seemingly unsure of where I was going with my question.
"Ex-girlfriend? Ex-fling? Ex-" I began, raising an eyebrow inquisitively, trying to delve deeper into their past.
"Girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend," he cut me off abruptly, his tone slightly curt. It was evident that this topic held some sensitivity for him.
My mind raced with questions, but there was one burning inquiry that I couldn't resist voicing. "Do you still love her? Did you love her?" I asked, unable to conceal the hint of concern in my voice. It wasn't that I felt threatened by their history, but Mia's presence and her impact on Alex seemed apparent from her earlier actions.
Alex looked at me, his eyes flickering with a mix of emotions. "You? What's your relationship with her?" he countered, his tone revealing a touch of defensiveness. I met his gaze but found myself shaking my head slightly, unsure of how to define our connection. What were we exactly? It was a question that lingered unanswered in my mind.
Thankfully, Alex didn't push further for an answer. We continued drinking, the atmosphere growing slightly more relaxed. But as the conversation flowed, a part of me couldn't help but steal glances at the closed door of the guest room. There was something strangely comforting about the thought of Mia being with me, yet a deep-rooted fear held me back. I didn't want to open myself up to potential heartache again.
A bitter smile crossed my lips, a reflection of the pain I had experienced in the past. Ever since that hurtful experience, I had made a solemn vow to myself - "I will never love again." Love, in my eyes, seemed like nothing more than a futile waste of time.
My thoughts was interrupted when I was taken aback by Alex's unexpected question, his words slurring slightly as he seemed to be already intoxicated. "She's not one of your flings, right?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. I couldn't help but wonder what had prompted this inquiry in his inebriated state.
"No, no, she's not like that," I replied, trying to assure him. Alex nodded in agreement, seemingly satisfied by my response. His mind seemed muddled by alcohol, leading to these random and unpredictable conversations.
"What about Rhian?" out of nowhere, Alex suddenly brought up Rhian's name, leaving me feeling disoriented in my drunken stupor.
"What about her?" I responded, my head spinning slightly from the effects of the alcohol. I felt a mix of confusion and curiosity swirling within me. What connection did Rhian have to do with all of this? Why was Alex mentioning her?
With a drink in hand, Alex slurred out his next words, his voice carrying a touch of intensity. "You know, don't use Chimi. She doesn't deserve that. And if you stay in love with Rhian, then stay away from my Chimi," he said, referring to Mia as "my Chimi." The mention of that nickname caught me off guard. My Chimi? Seriously? It seemed so cheesy and pointless to label her that way. In my preferences, Mia was much more better than that cheesy nickname.
I shook my head in disbelief at Alex's statement, struggling to make sense of his drunken ramblings. "I'm not using her, and I will never do that," I replied firmly, taking another sip of my drink, even though the dizziness caused me to momentarily close my eyes. I knew my intentions and feelings towards Mia were genuine, and no amount of alcohol could distort that truth.
As I glanced over at Alex, I noticed that he had succumbed to his weariness, already fast asleep, completely wasted from the night's indulgence. Taking this as a cue, I let myself relax, closing my eyes and allowing sleep to embrace me, despite the lingering whirlwind of thoughts and emotions surrounding Mia and the cryptic mention of Rhian. Little did I know, as the evening unfolded, that the tangled web of emotions surrounding Mia's presence would only grow more complicated.