Max had reached her limit.

  She could handle Sophie throwing herself at Alex, Oleg being a disaster, and Han being unnecessarily ied in her ent love life.

  But Alex casually paying for Earl's entire medical bill like it was a damn parking ticket?

  Oh, hell no.

  So, before Caroline could start another FBI-level interrogation, Max grabbed Alex's wrist and yanked him down the hallway.

  "Alright, Moneybags," she hissed, dragging him away fr eyes. "We o talk."

  Alex didn't resist. If anything, he looked mildly eained.

  She stopped ohey were alone in a quieter er of the hospital. The fluorest lights flickered slightly overhead, the faint beeping of maes eg from nearby rooms.

  Max took a deep breath, crossing her arms. "Alright, spill."

  Alex arched an eyebrow. "Spill what?"

  Max huffed. "Don't py dumb. Earl's medical bills? The private room? The Bck Card flex? What the hell, Alex?"

  Alex's expression didn't ge. He just slipped his hands into his pockets, tilting his head slightly. "He's important to you."

  Max blinked. "Yeah? So?"

  Alex's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "So, if he matters to you, he matters to me."

  Max's brain short-circuited.

  "...What?"

  Alex exhaled, stepping just a little closer. "Max, you don't do sad very well. I don't like seeing it." His voice dropped slightly, smoother, softer. "And now that you're mine..."

  Max choked on air.

  "...it's my job to make sure you're not upset."

  Max's entire body busted.

  OH.OH, HE DID NOT JUST—

  "Okay, first of all," She poi him aggressively. "I never said I was yours!"

  Alex smirked. "You did, actually. At the bakery. Remember?"

  Max froze.

  Shit.

  She had said that.

  She had been caught up in the moment, high off his damn foot massage sorcery, and then... BOOM. asm. Who gets an asm from foot massage and kisses?

  But that was before.

  Before he did this insane rich guy move. Before he made her feel things.

  Max cleared her throat violently. "That was... uh... You know, just in the heat of the moment!" She waved her hands dramatically. "A fluke! A oime, not-legally-binding, totally hypothetical... Yeah, that's it."

  Alex took aep closer.

  Max's breath hitched.

  "Get used to it, Bck."

  His voice was too smooth.

  Too fident.

  Like he had already won.

  "Used to what?" she challenged, even though her voice definitely wobbled.

  Alex smirked, tilting his head. "Being spoiled by me."

  Max fot how to fun. Her heart was smming against her ribs. She had heard a lot of ihings in her life. But this? This was a whole new level of reality-breaking bullshit. "You... You 't just..." She poi him again, desperately grasping for words. "You 't just go around saying rich people things like that!"

  Alex chuckled, low and deep. "Why not?"

  "Because..." Max felt her brain short-circuiting. "Because it's obnoxiously attractive, okay?!"

  Silence.

  Alex's smirk widened dangerously. "Obnoxiously attractive, huh?"

  Max's face went nuclear.

  "I—NO! That's not—Shut up!"

  Alex ughed.

  A real one. Deep, amused, way too hot for this hospital hallway.

  Max groaned, facepalming aggressively. "I hate you."

  "No, you don't."

  Max huffed. "Okay, well, I hate how you keep winning."

  Alex just smirked. "Then try harder, Cupcake Queen."

  Max at that point just accepted it.

  Because he was right, and she had no eback.

  And worse?

  She was smiling.

  Alex's phone buzzed.

  He barely g the s before unlog it, skimming the message.

  Rachel.

  [Rachel]: Music deal is locked in. You're wele. Also, casting session rescheduled for tomorrow. You o be in L.A. ASAP.

  Alex sighed. Of course.

  Rachel was effit as hell, which was great for business, but terrible for his current situation.

  Max noticed the shift in his expression immediately. She tilted her head. "What's with the serious face? Did someoeal your yacht?"

  Alex smirked despite himself. "Rachel finalized the music deal for the film."

  Max blinked. "And that's bad… why?"

  "It's not." Alex pocketed his phone. "But she also scheduled another casting session for tomorrow. Which means…"

  Max squinted. "Which means?"

  Alex sighed, rolling his shoulders. "I have to leave for L.A. Now."

  Max blinked. "Wait. Like, right now? Tonight?"

  Alex nodded. "Yeah. If I don't go now, I won't make it in time."

  Max hesitated. Not because she cared (shut up, brain), but because… okay, maybe she was a little used to him being here.

  But whatever. It wasn't a big deal.

  She crossed her arms, f nonce. "Alright, then. Go do your billionaire movie-making thing."

  Alex smirked, amused. "Gd I have your permission, Bck."

  Max rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you're wele."

  Then, Alex's expression shifted slightly.

  Something calcuted.

  "Before I go…" He tilted his head. "Tomorrow m, someone will send you the paperwork for the bakery."

  Max blinked. "Wait, what?"

  "And," Alex tinued smoothly, "they'll also need your bank at details so I trahe money."

  Max froze.

  Her brain shut down.

  Because ht.

  Money goes in banks.

  Which is totally normal.

  For people who have money.

  Max scratched the back of her neck, awkward as hell. "Soooo… funny story…"

  Alex raised an eyebrow. "Max."

  Max winced. "I… don't have a bank at."

  Silence.

  Alex just stared at her.

  Max shrugged helplessly. "What? I'm too broke to justify one! My 'bank' is literally just me stuffing cash in an old shoebox under my bed."

  Alex blinked slowly. "...Jesus Christ, Max."

  Max huffed. "Hey! Not all of us have offshore ats and private jets!"

  Alex pihe bridge of his nose. "Okay, fine. Use Caroline's. I'll trahe mohere."

  Max exhaled in relief. "Oh, thank God. Because I'm pretty sure my shoebox wouldn't fit a quarter of a million dolrs."

  Alex smirked, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."

  Max grinned. "Wele to my world, Moneybags."

  Alex g his phone again, sighing. "Alright, I really have to go now."

  Max hesitated, then casually shrugged. "Well… try not to get too famous while yone."

  Alex tilted his head. "Try not to miss me too much."

  Max scoffed. "Pfft. Yeah. Like that's gonna happen."

  Max was expeg Alex to just smirk, throw out o teasing remark, and walk away.

  But instead…

  He stepped closer.

  Way too close.

  Before she could even process it, his hands were on her face—strong, warm fingers cupping her cheeks with so much care that her brain short-circuited.

  Her breath caught.

  Her entire body froze.

  And then?

  He kissed her forehead.

  Soft. Lingering. Like he was memorizing the feel of her against his lips.

  Max stopped breathing.

  Not because it was some hot, toe-curling, world-ending kind of kiss.

  No.

  Because it wasn't.

  It was worse.

  It was gentle.

  Sweet.

  And so much more dangerous.

  Alex pulled back slightly, his hands still cradling her face, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek. His blue eyes searched hers for a sed—a long, loaded sed—before he finally let go.

  "Take care, Max," he murmured.

  And just like that, he turned and walked away.

  Max stood there. Stunned.

  Mouth slightly open.

  Still processing what just happened.

  The world blurred for a sed.

  And then...

  "OH. MY. GOD."

  Max snapped back to reality just in time to hear Sophie's dramatic gasp.

  She turned...

  And yep.

  There they were.

  Caroline. Sophie. Han. Oleg.

  All staring.

  All witnessing.

  All looking like they just walked into a live episode of The Hottest Romance Drama of 2025.

  Max's stomach dropped.

  Sophie's eyes were gleaming. "Honey, what the hell was that?!"

  Max groaned. "Nothing!"

  Han adjusted his gsses. "That did not look like nothing."

  Oleg nodded sagely. "That looked like very muething."

  Max threw up her hands. "It was a forehead kiss! You guys are ag like he just proposed!"

  Sophie gasped again, clutg her chest. "Oh, imagine if he did!"

  Max gred. "Sophie..."

  "You'd look stunning in white," Sophie tinued dreamily. "And imagihe wedding! The tabloids would go crazy!"

  Han nodded. "Yes, yes. And then we would be rich by association."

  Oleg wiped an imaginary tear. "So beautiful."

  Max groaned so hard it hurt. "Okay, we not pn my fake rich wedding right now?!"

  Sophie smirked. "Why? Afraid you might actually want it?"

  Max opened her mouth. Then closed it. Then gred. "I hate you."

  Sophie just winked.

  Han shrugged. "Statistically, Max, if a man like Alex Wilson kisses you on the forehead, you are either about to bee his wife… or his biggest weakness."

  Max choked. "What the—WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!"

  Oleg grinned. "He is g you."

  Max died inside.

  And then?

  Caroline cleared her throat.

  Max turned...

  And froze.

  Because Caroline…

  Caroline wasn't smiling.

  She wasn't teasing.

  She wasn't ughing along with the others.

  She was just standing there.

  Silent.

  Her arms crossed.

  Her faeutral.

  But her eyes?

  There was something off.

  Something tight.

  Something Max couldn't quite pce.

  "Caroline?" she asked hesitantly.

  Caroline blihen, like a switch flipping, she forced a small smile. "What?"

  Max narrowed her eyes. "You're ag weird."

  Caroline scoffed. "Oh, please. You're the one who just got forehead-kissed by a hot guy and is now pretending you didn't like it."

  Max flushed. "I'm not pretending anything!"

  Sophie smirked. "Mmm-hmm."

  Max turned back to Caroline. "But seriously. You okay?"

  Caroline's smile tightened. "Yeah. Fine. Just… a long night. You know, all the rush and all."

  Max studied her.

  Because that didn't sound ving.

  At all.

  And Caroline…

  Caroline never got weird like this.

  But before Max could push further—

  Caroliurned away.

  "Anyway," she said, suddenly overly casual, "shouldn't we be fog on Earl instead of your hot romance?"

  Max frowned. 'I k! Caroline fell for Alex, too. This will be fun. A threesome... Fuck! What the hell am I even thinking? Get a grip, Bck. Arggg! My mind is a total mess.'

  But before she could say anything, Han cpped his hands together. "Yes! Let us focus. But also, let us revisit the fact that Max now has a Sugar Daddy."

  "HE IS NOT MY SUGAR DADDY!" Max yelled.

  Oleg smirked. "He sure pays like one."

  Max screamed into her hands.

  And Caroline?

  Caroline just stood there.

  Watg.

  Not saying anything.

  And ign the weird little ache in her chest.

  Because this wasn't jealousy.

  Right?

  ...

  [ day] [M]

  Max rawled out on the couch, half-asleep, drooling slightly on a pillow when...

  KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

  A loud knog jolted her awake. She groaned, rubbing her eyes. "Ugh, if that's a ndlord with aion notice, tell him we're already dead."

  Caroline, who was much more awake and already sipping her m coffee, rolled her eyes. "It's not the ndlord. It's probably your boyfriend's assistant."

  Max blihen snorted. "Boyfriend? Pfft. Nah. That man is just a walking ATM with cheekbones."

  Caroline sighed. "Please do not refer to the multi-millionaire funding our business as an ATM in front of his employee."

  Max groaned, dragging herself off the couch. "Fine. But if she tries to sell me on a rich people loyalty program, I'm throwing a cupcake at her."

  Caroline opehe door.

  Standing in the doorway was Jane.

  Jane was tall, blonde, and dressed in a sleek, no-nonsense suit. She carried a briefcase like a woman who had seen some things and wasn't impressed by anything anymore.

  She took one look at Max—messy hair, an oversized t-shirt that said "I 't Adult Today," and socks that didn't matd let out the smallest sigh.

  "Good m," Jane said smoothly. "I'm here with the dots for the bakery transfer."

  Max squinted. "Huh. You're exactly what I expected a billionaire's assistant to look like."

  Jane blinked. "And you're exactly what I expected his business parto look like."

  Caroline choked on her coffee.

  Max gasped dramatically. "I feel attacked, Jane!"

  Jane did not react. Unshakable. Like a statue. Like a woman who had survived Alex Wilson's bullshit for years and could not be moved by humaions. She sat on the couch, took the dots from her briefcase and gave them to Carolier a brief introdu.

  Caroline sighed, taking the dots. "Let's just get to work before Max ruins this with her mouth."

  Max smirked. "Oh, honey, you should know by now... my mouth only makes things more exg."

  Jane raised an eyebrow. "Noted."

  Caroli at the kit table, flipping through the paperwork like a responsible adult.

  Max, oher hand, inning a peween her fingers, zoning out.

  Caroline read every line while Max just gred at Jane. 'Look at her, nice boobs, nice ass, long legs. And she's his assistant. Sounds sus. Wait! Why am I thinking of this again? Arggg! That man...'

  Ja patiently, pletely ued by the nonsense.

  Max yawned. "Okay, great. Everything looks good. Where do I sign?"

  Caroline didn't even look up. "You are not signing anything until I finish reading."

  Max groaned. "Ugh, what's the worst that could happen?"

  Caroline shot her a look. "Worst case? You sign over your soul, your kidneys, and legal ownership of your future firstborn."

  Max blinked. "Wait, rich people do that?"

  Jaill emotionless, replied, "With the right wyer, yes."

  Max gasped. "I K! RICH PEOPLE ARE SECRETLY RUNNING AN UNDERGROUND AN TRADE!"

  Caroline facepalmed. "Jesus Christ, Max, let me read."

  [20 mier]

  After Carolihhly ied every single page, she finally nodded.

  "Okay. It's legit. No hidden an-trading cuses. No weird billioraps."

  Max sighed dramatically. "Ugh, finally! I was getting wrinkles waiting for this."

  Jane handed her a pen. "Sign here."

  Max signed.

  Jauro Caroline. "And you, as co-owner."

  Caroline signed.

  Jane nodded, clig her pen with military precision. "gratutions. The bakery is officially yours."

  Max beamed. "Hell yeah! We're businesswomen now. We're like… fancy, responsible adults!"

  Caroline gave her a ft look. "You are currently wearing a shirt with a coffee stain shaped like... Nevermind."

  Max looked down. "Oh. ."

  Jane cleared her throat. "Now, for the step—your bank at."

  Caroline blinked. "Wait. Already? I thought it would take days to process the funds."

  Jane shook her head. "Mr. Wilson had it pre-approved. The funds will be wired instantly."

  Max whistled. "Damn. It must be o have 'pre-approved money moves' as a lifestyle."

  Jane did not ent. She just handed Caroline a form.

  Caroline grabbed her wallet, pulling out her perfectly normal, responsible personal debit card.

  Max, meanwhile, leaned over Jane's shoulder, watg with unhinged fasation.

  Jayped something into her tablet. "Please verify the at number."

  Caroline carefully read the form, making sure everything was correct. "Alright. All good."

  Jane nodded and clicked one siton.

  Ding!

  Caroline's phone vibrated.

  She pulled it out and scrolled through her banking app, her expression calm, posed, and unreadable.

  Max, oher hand, was vibrating with impatience.

  "WELL?" she demanded, practically hanging over Caroline's shoulder. "DID IT GH? ARE WE RIOW? I THROW MO STRANGERS JUST TO FEEL SOMETHING?"

  Caroline blinked.

  Her lips parted slightly.

  Then… she froze.

  Max panicked.

  "What? What?!" Max's hands flew to Caroline's shoulders, shaking her slightly. "WHAT DOES IT SAY? DID HE SCAM US? IS THIS A RICH PEOPLE PRANK? DID I ACTALLY SELL YOU TO A SECRET UNDERGROUND BILLIONAIRE SEX CLUB?!"

  Caroline finally found her voice.

  "…Max."

  Max stopped. "Yeah?"

  Caroline slowly turned her phone around, showing the s.

  Max leaned in, eyes sing the numbers.

  And then?

  Her soul left her body.

  Caroline ingAvaible Bance: 255,000.38

  Max malfuned.

  "THAT'S TOO MANY ZEROS."

  Caroliared bnkly at the s. "Max, I—Max. That's—Max, we actually have—"

  "WE HAVE A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS," Max screamed.

  Jane, pletely unfazed by the breakdoening before her, simply checked her watch. "As I mentioned, Mr. Wilson is very effit."

  Max was having an out-of-body experience.

  Caroline was hyperventiting.

  Jaook out her card and pced it otle table before the couch, "If you need anything or fay problem, feel free to tact me."

  Then she left... Just like that.

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  [8 advance chs] [All chs avaible for all tiers]

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