Diana gathered the strength to make Max look at her.
"Not tonight, Diana," Max's words carried a magnetic force, and for a moment, she felt the pull of his charisma weakening her resolve.
Max leaned in to place a devoted kiss on her neck.
His lips met the tender skin. Diana's hand instinctively stroked through Max's hair. But soon, a realization struck her—Max was not moving.
Diana carefully shifted Max beside her. She ran her fingers over his long eyelashes.
"I am sorry," she whispered.
"I won't agree unless you accept my conditions."
Diana gave him some sleeping pills in water, which she gave him to drink.
"You can let your anger out tomorrow," she murmured softly.
Diana mustered the strength to pull away. She pressed a tender kiss on his forehead. As she stood up, buttoning her half-opened shirt, she closed the door behind her.
However, her departure was met with an unexpected encounter. Francisco's voice echoed in the corridor.
"Diana!"
"How come you are here?" Francisco inquired, his tone calm.
Diana attempted to give an explanation. "I... I just..."
"You? What?" Francisco pressed for details, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
In a nervous tone, Diana hastily crafted a story, "Actually, Max was... I went to give him his medicine. He got his hand injured."
"Really? When?" Francisco questioned.
Francisco's cold gaze bore into Diana.
Nervously, she stammered out an explanation, "He... he just struck his hand with something."
Francisco arched an eyebrow.
"Okay."
"Is it serious?"
Her response was succinct. "No, just a tiny cut."
However, Francisco's surprise surfaced as he processed the details.
"A small injury? And he is resting?"
His tone carried a note of disbelief.
Lifting his chin and drawing a deep breath, Francisco addressed Diana directly, "Diana!"
"Is everything all right? Max doesn't give a damn about minor injuries," Francisco remarked.
"Is this something else?"
Diana stammered her response, "Actually, I gave him some sleeping pills because he was so worked up."
Francisco, raising his eyebrows, shifted his gaze between Max's door and Diana.
"Okay," he uttered, taking a sip of his coffee before heading to his bedroom.
Diana, feeling a wave of relief, exhaled audibly as if she had narrowly escaped a precarious situation.
"Oh god, I hope he had no doubts," she muttered to herself.
The next morning, Max slowly opened his eyes, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Ah!" he groaned, rubbing his neck.
In a dreamy voice, he murmured, "Diana!"
"Diana!" he called out.
Max's groggy eyes scanned the room, but Diana was nowhere in sight. As he sat on the bed, a gloomy expression clouded his face.
"Was that really necessary, Diana?"
He muttered aloud. Max grappled with the aftermath of the sleeping pills, realizing that Diana must have done it.
Rising from the bed with an undercurrent of anger, Max decided to confront Diana.
Diana and Francisco were having breakfast. Francisco delved into his laptop, monitoring stock rates and analyzing data. On the other hand, Diana appeared lost in her thoughts, occasionally glancing towards the door leading to Max's room.
Observing Diana's behavior, Francisco couldn't help but tap his finger on his lips. Francisco was astute; he had eyes everywhere, and nothing escaped his attention.
Breaking the silence, Francisco moved his attention from the laptop to Diana.
"Did you check on your patient this morning?"
Diana raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"What?"
Francisco still focused on his laptop. "I'm talking about Max.
"Oh, Max."
Diana responded, "No, I haven't gone to his room."
"Give him the utmost attention. He must come round as soon as possible."
"Yes," Diana replied.
"Just who do you want to come round?"
The atmosphere in the mansion shifted as Max's voice reverberated through the room. Buttoning his shirt, he descended the stairs with a nonchalant demeanor. Diana instinctively averted her gaze, but as Max approached, he turned to face her with a frigid gaze that seemed to lack any sentiment.
Francisco seemed unfazed by Max's entrance.
"We were speaking of you, Max. How are you feeling now?"
"Me?"
Max feigned ignorance, adding, "What has happened to me?"
With a casual glance towards Diana, Francisco said, "I've heard you're not feeling well."
Diana, taken aback by Max's direct approach, questioned, "Who told you this?"
Francisco, without missing a beat, turned to Diana. "Diana!"
Realization dawned on Diana as Max's smirk deepened.
"Francis, your sister loves playing gags," Max remarked casually as he bit into an apple.
"Actually, I asked for a back massage from a maid last night. But when I opened my eyes, I spotted her standing next to me," Max revealed with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"What?" Francisco looked at Diana.
"Yes, did she not tell you?" Max said as he smirked.
"Francisco, it's just," Diana began, attempting to explain, but Max swiftly interjected with a mocking tone.
"Oh, Diana, come on. Say the truth. Why are you stuttering?"
Diana shot him an annoyed look. She had wished for Max to be honest with Francisco, yet he chose to toy with her predicament.
As she contemplated the consequences, Max's laughter filled the room. He found amusement in Diana's discomfort, laughing openly at her predicament.
"Francisco, Diana seems really anxious. Forget her, I am telling you," Max said with a mischievous grin.
"Last night, I just messed up her plans."
Diana lowered her gaze.
Max, taking another bite, continued, "Right, Diana, I just ruined her plan with her colleague. I hope I haven't offended you."
Diana shifted her attention away.
"Diana, I don't like your colleague. I sincerely hope you understand what I am trying to say," Francisco muttered, turning to face Diana.
"Francis, he is a great guy, and rest assured that I won't blend my personal and professional lives," Diana responded, tightening her gaze and maintaining a calm demeanor.
"Diana!"
Francisco sprang up from his chair.
"Your work life is also your personal one. Enjoy your life, but don't consider getting married to him."
Max, listening intently with narrowed eyes, remained silent. He harbored a desire to teach Diana a lesson after she deceived him and left him alone the previous night.
After Francisco left them alone, Max spoke up, "I want you to keep his words in mind, Diana."
"Naturally, how come I don't pay attention?" I will heed his orders exactly," Diana responded brashly, catching Max's gaze.
"And if somebody tries to use him against my relationship, I just don't give a damn."
Max, taken aback by her boldness, lowered his gaze and murmured, "Diana, you..."
"Max, did you not hear what Francisco said? He told me to have fun with him," Diana said, giving Max a provocative look before turning to leave.
Max, seething with anger, banged his hand against the table.
**