"Remain bent. It suits you," Max said, stepping aside to let her enter. Heidi walked in, a laptop tucked under her arm, clear evidence that she hadn't come just to annoy him.
"Sounds like you're scared," Heidi teased.
"I'm relieved there's one less girl who enjoys disturbing my peace," Max replied flatly.
"Oh? You miscounted, boss," Heidi said, barely holding back her laughter. "That sexy Smith babe doesn't seem to like you."
Max went silent.
Heidi instantly knew his jaw had tightened.
She had seen him the other night, knocking out endless push-ups because he couldn't concentrate. Watching Max lose focus was rare, almost impossible. Whatever the Smith girl had done, she had managed to crawl under his skin and stay there.
"Get out," Max said coldly.
"Oh, okay. She likes you," Heidi corrected quickly, already stepping back and preparing to dodge if necessary.
"What do you want?" Max asked, irritation sharpening his voice. He was surrounded by annoying people lately, and Heidi had been on top of the list.
Unfortunately, someone else had surpassed her the previous day.
A girl with no respect for her elders. Loud. Annoying. Persistent, foul mouth and just ughhhhh….
Max exhaled sharply.
Heidi's playful expression vanished instantly. "Someone seems very interested in your life, boss." She opened her laptop.
Max shook his head. "I know."
"You do?" Heidi raised a brow.
"Hm." Of course he knew.
If sleep hadn't overtaken him earlier, he would have already traced Alicia's number. Still, he intended to meet her.
Did she think he was naïve enough to accept such an invitation blindly?
Of course not.
"Someone knows exactly when to mention my sister's name to make dramatic demands," Max said coolly.
Heidi's lips twisted.
Emily was a line no one crossed. Whoever thought invoking her name would trap him had only handed him a reason to dig deep into their life and confirm whether they were a threat.
That was precisely why Max had played along with Alicia's theatrics.
Meeting someone because they promised to surprise him?
Ridiculous.
He wasn't new to cheap attempts or shallow games. Alicia had played hers well and he was curious, but he had his own agenda.
"Link whoever it is to the number that called me and tell me who she is," Max said, already walking toward his bed.
Heidi didn't tease this time. Emily mattered to all of them.
She crossed the room to the brown sofa, set her laptop down, and began typing. Her long fingers danced across the keyboard, the sharp tapping filling the room.
"Urgh," Max groaned, grabbing a pillow and pressing it over his head, forcing his eyes shut.
Alicia's photo appeared on the screen.
Heidi raised an eyebrow at the information beneath it.
The trail led straight to Harry, Alicia's father.
The math was simple.
"Boss, it's done," Heidi said.
A pillow came flying at her. She ducked effortlessly.
"I recorded that," she added cheerfully. "The girls would love to see how cute you are indoors."
A second pillow followed.
"Who is it?" Max demanded.
"She's related to the Smiths. Cousin of that hot girl who wasn't dazzled by your mouthwatering body."
Max didn't respond.
His thoughts spiraled.
Why had the Smiths and their relatives suddenly started circling him overnight?
This wasn't a coincidence. Two women, living under different roofs, calling him on the same day, at overlapping times.
Something was wrong.
He stood and walked toward Heidi. "Find the person who called me before her."
She opened another window, fingers moving swiftly.
A smirk tugged at her lips when Olivia's photo appeared.
"Damn," Heidi muttered. "She's hot."
Her eyes lingered on Olivia's slightly pouted lips.
Definitely her type.
Max, now seated beside her, shifted uncomfortably at the sight of Olivia Smith's picture. He didn't like the girl's gut.
What exactly did the Smiths want from him?
"This whole thing feels off," Heidi said. "Want me to look into the assassination attempt?"
Max shot her a sharp glare. "Not my business. Block Olivia's number. Leave the other girl alone for now."
He turned away. Sleep had completely abandoned him.
"I want to see what she wants," he added. "And how she plans to get it."
"And don't say her name around me again."
Heidi caught the weight behind his words and didn't joke this time.
She shut the laptop, stood, and left quietly, mentally reminding herself to let go of her attraction to Olivia.
If Max didn't want to see her, she wouldn't crave her.
.......
Meanwhile, Back to Emma
Emma sat curled in a corner of the spacious room, drenched in sweat.
Her phone trembled violently in her hand.
Her lips quivered.
She couldn't speak.
The moment she heard his voice, everything inside her froze.
She had called Honey for advice, but the system remained silent.
Emma had always believed her weakness was a deliberate mask, something she wore to keep danger away from her family.
But now she knew better.
This wasn't a strategy.
This was who she was.
Her courage only surfaced when someone else was threatened. Alone, she was helpless.
A weakling.
An idiot.
A simple hi would have been enough, but she couldn't force the sound past her lips.
Max was wealthy—just like the body she now inhabited—but the pressure crushed her even when he wasn't applying any.
She needed to change.
She hated feeling like this.
Her thumb hovered, then tapped the dial for the third time.
A mechanical voice answered instead.
The number you're trying to reach cannot be connected.
Her breath hitched.
Anxiety crashed over her.
He blocked her.
What now?