Romance Dead-ends

"You ever been to La Panoramique before?" Watching how Stephine's jaw just dropped.

"No... I have not; every time I tried, the wait list is so long," Stephine explained, eyeing Max quizzically. "Are you saying you can get us a table at La Panoramique with only a day's notice?"

"I can, but we'll have to discuss this later," Max said, seeing Greg gesturing for him to enter his office.

"But how?" Stephine's voice trailed after him as Max neared her father's office door.

"I'm a silent owner," Max said, leaving Stephine rather speechless with a gaping mouth as he entered Greg's office. Ignoring how Stephine rushed to her desk as he took the offered seat.

"Is that the disk you created to patch the holes in our program?" Greg asked, nodding down to it.

"It is," Max said, handing it to him. Leaning back, watching Greg inserting it into his tower, observing how his fingers moved over his keyboard like a seasoned hacker. Seeing him stare intently at the screen when Greg brought up the code.

"And you created this? How?" Greg asked, glancing over at Max.

"From memory," Max stated factually.

"Come again?" Greg was at a loss for words. The code was too complex to recreate strictly from memory.

"I have a photographic memory, so since I'm not a programmer of sorts that warrants having access to the source code, I created that," pointing at the computer screen, "from the errors I have seen on the jobs I've worked," Max said truthfully.

"Still, even just recreating a tenth of the code, this is remarkable," Greg uttered, turning back to the screen. Resting his chin in his left hand as he leaned on the armrest of his chair. His eyes scanned down the code. He didn't create a software company and not know how to read code. "Would you mind if I kept this for a day so I can really look through it?" he asked, peering out of the corner of his eye.

"Keep it; I have a backup in my case if that one got damaged."

"Thank you, I'll make sure this gets turned into a module as soon as possible. I don't want my company known for putting out an inferior product," Greg said, turning back to Max. "Darla wanted me to thank you for making Terry's night very memorable for her. We haven't seen her smile so much in so long; I do truly thank you for that."

"No need for thanks, Mr. Archer. Your daughter is a very kind woman; any rational man would be happy that they were the one who put a smile on her lips," Max stated truthfully.

"Yes, that may be true, but they aren't the ones doing it, now are they?" Greg countered with a cheeky smile.

"True," Max retorted, matching Greg's smile.

"Let's take a walk, shall we," Greg uttered, getting up from his seat. "Steph hold my calls until I get back," he ordered once he and Max left his office.

"Sure thing Dad," Stephine nodded, "you, me, break room, nine o'clock," she whispered after Max as he followed after her father.

Max arched an eyebrow as Greg opened the stairwell door and proceeded down to the lower levels of the building. "Don't want to tip off the mid-level guys. I want to catch them in the act," Greg stated as he ambled down the stairs.

Max nodded in understanding, knowing the ding of the bell of the elevator would indeed give them away. Slipping out the door behind Greg once they reached the seventh floor. The floor where the programmers worked. Max noted how Greg's hands were clenched into fists as they stood in the little excess hallway that rarely, if at all, saw any travelers listening to the floor manager berating one of the programmers. His blood boiled at how the man talked down to his shy friend. It was only because Greg thrusted out his left arm that stopped his advance.

"You rushing in there isn't going to help her, Max," Greg said, although the smirk on his lips told Max he was already going to handle it, given that he had heard enough to have the man fired for cause. Pushing off, seeing the surprise in the few they passed, seeing it in their eyes, pondering on how they got there without being heard. "Jenkins!" Greg barked, causing the man to spin around, whose face went ashen the moment his eyes fell on him. "Pack your shit and get the hell out of my building! You're fired! Effective immediately!"

"You can't..."

"But he can, section five, clause two, article six, states any and all employees can be terminated for just cause if a superior or fellow worker places a hand on another inappropriately. And we all saw how you touched her on her chest; I would think that would warrant sexual harassment, don't you, sir?" Max stated, speaking up and looking over at Greg. Seeing that smile of his just widening.

"Now listen here, you little..."

"Do you think you still have any say at this company when you've been sacked?" Max asked with a wicked grin on his lips.

"Ms..."

"Mrs. Parker, sir," Max whispered to Greg as he addressed his friend.

"Mrs. Parker, please return to your desk, and know I do not, in any way, condone this man's actions," Greg said in a warm tone.

Max just nodded when Emily mouthed a thank you to him before heading back to her desk. A sense of dread lifted off her shoulders with every step she took. Noticing how Greg walked towards the nearest desk and borrowed the person's phone, and called down to security to have Jenkins removed from the premises. Wiggling his eyebrows at the man, wondering if he could taunt him to act as he noted the throbbing vein in his forehead. Greg just stared at Max in shock at how fast he moved and how fluidly Jenkins' body flew through the air as Max body flipped the man.

"You hang out in a biker bar; you learn a few things," Max said offhandedly.

"You haven't taken Terry to one, I hope."

"Have you seen your daughter, sir? Way too pretty to be seen in one of those," Max stated, causing heads to turn. Feeling a little under the microscope with so many eyes on him.

"Brenda?!" Greg walked into the assistant manager's office once Jenkins had been escorted off the floor in shame. Seeing the woman scurrying to her feet when he stormed in. "You're the new floor manager; fix this crap this department has been sending out to our clients. You have a month; get to it." With that, Greg turned on his heel and left a very confused and bewildered Brenda in his wake.

Max was chatting away with Emily making sure she was okay, while Greg went to ensure the floor had a reliable manager in the wake of Jenkins removal. Smiling and nodding as Emily went on about her three sweet, adorable children. He really did like the woman. Once she got used to you and liked you, Emily could talk a mile a minute. Lightly touching her right shoulder as he saw Greg heading towards him. Telling her, he'd see her later, flashing him her dazzling smile, seeing renewed life returning to her. Listening to the high pitch whistle that Greg produced when he stood in the center of the floor.

"I'm going to say this once. I don't care who you are, how high you are in the company, or how low you are. If anyone of you sees or hears any, and I mean anything like you just witnessed, I want you to report it immediately to your manager; if they aren't listening, then you come see me, am I understood?" Greg spoke loudly so the whole floor could hear. "I am terribly sorry that you had to endure that man's actions for so long. I promise, as the owner of this company, that kind of filth will not be tolerated."

Max waved at his friend before following after Greg as they headed for the stairwell. You could feel the mood of the entire building lifting as Greg cleaned house. Firing four more managers on his warpath to set his company back on course.

"Return to your desk Max, your manager and I need to have a conversation alone," Greg said, gazing down at the very surprised man.

"Sure thing, boss," Max muttered, smiling wickedly at the man over Greg's shoulder before moving off to his desk. Pulling out his phone, it had been going crazy in his pocket the whole time. "Sorry, Terry, I couldn't answer then was with your father," he typed out before sending his text to her.

"Baby! Did you tell my sister you could get us into La Panoramique?!" Came Terry's rapid reply.

"I did; why? Don't want to go?" Seeing his smile in his reflection on the screen of his phone. Scrolling through his list of contacts until he came to his business partner's name.

"Hello, Max; sorry you caught me at a bad time; we're just getting ready for the lunch rush."

"Hello, Paro; I'm not calling to discuss business. I need a table for four tomorrow night."

"Oh? A table for four, you don't say. When were you thinking of coming?"

"Say eight o'clock."

"Hmm... okay, I just penciled you in. See you tomorrow, my friend." Opening up his message app once he had gotten off the line with Paro and returned to Terry's texts.

"I'm going to ignore you even said that, of course, I want to go! Everyone wants to go to that place! Why didn't you tell me you were a silent owner!"

"You didn't ask, and I didn't see it was important enough to bring up," Max replied.

"Max, honey, if something as amazing as dating the silent owner of one of the best restaurants in the city isn't shared with your sweet, loving girlfriend, you get a very irate girlfriend because me and Stephine have been dying to go to that restaurant for ages!"

"Well, consider me forewarned."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"Don't like flaunting what I have, Terry. You've seen how I live; does it look like I like flashing around my money or my status?"

"But, Maxie?!" Arching an eyebrow, knowing that was the very first time anyone had ever called him that. "I'm your girlfriend; you should have told me."

"Oh? Are you pouting, gumdrop?" Max felt his body reacting when Terry sent a selfie of herself pouting in her desk chair. He couldn't tear his eyes away from that gorgeous body of hers.

"Does that answer your question?"

"Hmm... nope, seeing how my question is what color of underwear are you wearing," Max typed out, smirking as he already knew the answer to that question.

"Perv!"

"And? My girlfriend's hot; don't deny me my wanton lust for you!"

"I have to go; I need to prep for oral surgery. Max, I can't wait for tomorrow night. I know it's going to be great."

"Terry, any time with you is great," Max sent, wondering how red her face was at that moment.

"I'm glad you think so. I'll call you later."

"I'll be waiting." Quickly pocketing his phone when he heard footsteps approaching. Making whomever it was believed he was working on his paperwork for the jobs he had completed last week.

"Max." Greg's voice caused him to spin in his chair towards him. "I will see that yours and the others of this department's pay are restored that should've been handled the first time properly."

"Give mine to Fred over there," Max said low, pointing to his co-worker. Seeing the confusion in Greg's eyes when he said that.

"Can I ask why?"

"He needs it more than I do. His son has been in the hospital for a month, and his medical bills are piling up. He's been burning the candle at both ends just trying to make ends meet."

"Ah. I'll make sure yours is added as well then," Greg nodded, patting Max's shoulder as he walked past to speak with this Fred fellow. His heart did go out to him. He would do everything in his power to do whatever it took to see that his own daughters got the care they needed.

"Max Larson," he answered when his desk phone rang.

"Break room, third floor, now." Was all Stephine said before ending the call. Max would have burst out in laughter at his boss if the man's nervous and frantic movements weren't so sad as he passed his boss's office.

"Sit. Sit," Stephine said rapidly as Max walked into the breakroom.

Max looked at her oddly, wondering how she had gotten there before him. "Okay, what's this about?" Max asked although he could take a wild guess as to the nature of this conversation.

"La Panoramique, how did you become a silent owner?" Stephine asked before taking a sip of her coffee. "Do you want anything, my treat?"

"Nah, I'm good, thanks though," seeing how she smiled at that, "well, to answer your question, that's a long story, which I don't think we have enough time for that on a break," Max said sheepishly.

"Then give me the short version," Stephine uttered.

"Well, we would have to go back to when I was in high school; I was pretty depressed, angry too, but if you knew what my sister is really like, I should have expected she'd do something like that. Yet even I thought that was one line she would never cross. Live and learn, I guess," shrugging his shoulders, "so I stayed away from the house as much as possible. Wandering the city, much to my parents' ire, it was raining one night, and I was pretty soaked from head to toe, and the owner Paro saw me. He thought I was a homeless boy since anyone with half a brain wouldn't be out in that kind of storm without a jacket on. You see, at that time, La Panoramique wasn't as well-known as it is now. So they were pretty much slow on any given day of the week.

They didn't have the extra money needed to advertise their restaurant. So as they got me dry and warmed up and into loose-fitting, rather warm clothes. I just sat and listened. I paid for the meal they gave me, of course. I might have looked like a homeless boy, but I wasn't going to eat free when I had the cash to pay for it. So, given you know who my parents are," Max said, seeing Stephine nod as he leaned on the table. "Then you know or might have heard of how they just love vacationing in France. I went a few times but well..."

"They would rather have your sister along than you," Stephine finished for him.

"For the most part, sometimes they even left her behind. Anyway, I knew how to speak French. So when the owner and his wife were arguing about cost and lack of customers. I had an idea. I knew I would need a source of money flow when I left home, and I wasn't going to rely on my trust fund, no matter how endowed it was. So I kindly walked up to them; they thought I was still hungry and was about to fix me something else to eat until my words stopped them."

"What did you say?" Stephine asked, riveted to the edge of her seat.

"That I would give them two hundred thousand dollars for ten percent of their business. You can imagine the looks on their faces hearing a boy not even out of high school yet offering that kind of money," seeing her nodding vehemently along, "so I asked if I could use their phone. Called the bank that handles my trust; seeing how I was eighteen, my parents couldn't say a word about how I spent it. They just stared at me slack-jawed when I spoke in French to have them tell them their account number and routing number so the funds could be transferred. Granted, I should have had a contract before doing that, but they're very honest, very humble people. So once I got the contract and their signatures, we became business partners. After three months, their business started to take off as their advertising campaign, and word of mouth was paying off. Oh, the best thing is," Max said with a toothy smile on his lips as he leaned over the table. "My parents nor my sister, along with her wife, can never eat there. I made sure it was in the contract. I know for a fact my mother has been dying to go. Paro tells me every time she calls, trying to make a reservation. He just tells them they're booked and to try another time, not that their own son had blackballed them."

"Oh, my, God, that's wicked?!" Stephine gasped yet couldn't contain her giggle.

"I know; I have my moments," Max said, leaning back in his seat.

"So have you..."

"Already set it up for tomorrow," Max nodded.

"What time?"

"Eight o'clock. So do you want to ride with Terry and me, or do you and your lover boy," watching how red her cheeks were getting as he teased her, "just want to meet us there?" Max asked with a coy smirk.

"I don't know, Max; I have to get ready, put my face on, shower, the whole nine yards."

"Oh, must really like this man if you're going to this much effort."

"I do," Stephine nodded.

"Well, I should be getting back to my desk," Max said, noting the time.

"Hey, one question." Stephine's voice stilled his movement.

"Shoot," Max muttered as he turned back to her.

"Why do you want to appear as an average person and not the filthy rich man we both know you are?" Stephine asked, peering at him.

"Just because one has money doesn't make them any better than the next person. Sure it will open a lot of fucking doors, but in the end, if you value money over the people around you you'll either be surrounded by sycophants or gold-digging cunts, and know you have no one to rely on that isn't after your money. While say the next person that walks in here might be struggling with their next house payment, yet they will have a fuller life than even the most richest person on the planet because they will know the people they bring into their lives are in it because they want to be in it. Plus, I've lived in a fucking huge house, with servants waiting on me hand and foot. Fancy cars and everything in-between, and yet those that I brought into my life, I never knew if they were my friend because they wanted to be my friend or because I'm a Monroe," Max stated truthfully. "So I live like everyone else, dress like them, and honestly, never felt freer than I ever have before. Money isn't everything, Stephine, it might make things easier, but in truth, it won't keep you warm at night. See ya later," he waved as he left the room.

"Wow," Stephine muttered as she leaned back in her chair.

Tuesday night...

"How do I look?" Terry asked as she walked out of his bedroom at ten past seven that night.

"Holy..." Max's voice died away as his eyes ran down her skin-tight red dress that, made his mouth water and his manhood stand at attention.

"I take it you like it?" Terry cooed with a sensuous smile on her lips.

"Mmmhmm," Max hummed, drinking in his girlfriend's voluptuous body.

"Good, I'm glad," running her hands up Max's chest, her fingers tugged lightly on the collar of his dark blue button-down dress shirt, "I want to look sexy for my man; you are my man, aren't you?" Her eyes flared with hunger when Max pulled her into his body. Feeling his bulge pressing into her, Terry couldn't wait to get back to show it the love it deserved.

"Indeed I am," Max said sinfully, lightly kissing her lips so as not to smear her lipstick. Turning his head when a knock came upon his door. Feeling her fingertips gliding along his left arm as he walked to answer the door. He was quite surprised to find Stephine and her new boyfriend, if Max could call the man that, standing at his doorstep.

"I hope we aren't too late," Stephine said in a shy tone as she was dressed in a black cocktail dress that displayed her womanly curves very nicely, while Carl was dressed in a very fine grey suit.

"Seems I'm the one underdressed," Max mused, staring down at himself.

"Nonsense, honey, you look fine enough to eat," Terry purred into Max's ear while squeezing his ass as she stood behind him.

"Sis, I want you to meet Carl," Stephine said, introducing the new man in her life as Max locked up his apartment. "Carl, this is my twin sister Terry and her boyfriend Maxwell," she spoke, lightly laying a hand on Carl's left arm.

"How do you do," Carl uttered in a friendly tone as he held out his hand to Terry and then to Max.

"Hello," Max greeted, taking note of the man's firm grip. "Well, shall we?"

"Oh, yes! We shall; I'm not about to pass up La Panoramique," Stephine said excitedly as she looped her arm around Carl's once she had spun him around to face the stairs.

"Mmmhmm, you shouldn't hold out on your girlfriend, Max; that's in bad taste," Terry teased as she snuggled up to him as they walked down the breezeway.

"You know I told Mom where we were going tonight," Stephine uttered, peering up at her sister as they were almost to the ground level.

"Oh? And what did she say?" Terry asked curiously.

"She about fainted if Dad wasn't there to prop her up," hearing her sister giggle as they waited for them to descend the stairs, "so you better watch yourself, Max; Mom is very adamant about her French food," Stephine stated with a coy smile on her lips.

"So you told her I was a silent owner?" Max inquired with a pointed look.

"Had to, sorry," Stephine answered with a pleading look of forgiveness.

"Probably would've come out anyway," Max muttered, slyly looking over at Terry, who looked away innocently. Feeling her body stilling as the tips of his fingers brushed along her ass, reaching into his pocket, and pulling out the keys for his Bentley.

"I thought you drove a Honda?" Stephine asked in confusion.

"I do; I keep the Bentley in a garage, only pulling it out when I need to," Max said, noting how Stephine's and Carl's eyes were running over his car. "Thought I'd spoil my girl for the night," he uttered with a sinful smile on his lips as he pulled Terry into him, who was blushing like mad.

"I'm not opposed to a little spoiling," Terry whispered in a lustful voice.

"So, Carl, what is it that you do?" Terry asked as Max inserted the key, and nothing happened. Looking over at him, wondering if something mechanical had broken on his car.

"Bentley, start," Max spoke clearly, smiling at Terry as his car purred to life.

"This thing has a voice activated starter?!" Stephine said in awe.

"It does," Max nodded before backing out.

"I'm a stock trader," Carl spoke, answering Terry's question.

"Are you any good?" Max asked, peering back at them in the rearview mirror, only to have Terry slap him on his chest.

"Be nice," Terry chided.

"What? Thought I was."

"I'm not the best if that's what you're asking, but I don't have a problem with pulling in a steady income," Carl stated, reaching over and taking Stephine's offered hand. He still couldn't believe he was going on a date with the woman of his dreams.

"As long as you're happy with that; that's all that really matters, isn't it?" Max stated as he pulled out onto the road and headed towards their destination.

"So, besides being a silent owner of this place, what do you do for work, Max?" Carl asked in a friendly tone.

"Oh, I'm just a normal run-of-the-mill IT guy," Max answered, arching an eyebrow at Stephine's and Terry's snort.

"Baby, there is nothing normal about you," Terry said in a loving tone.

"Yeah, who would have thought a Monroe would be working in the basement of Dad's company," Stephine uttered, causing Carl's head to snap over to her. Nodding that Max was indeed a Monroe when Carl gave her that questioning look.

"Well, I'm being honest; if I hadn't met this angel in the elevator that day, no one would have ever known I was a Monroe," Max said, seeing how Terry's eyes had a longing in them as his fingers interweaved with hers.

"And not a day goes by that I don't thank the stars that we met that day," Terry cooed, brushing her thumb along the back of his hand.

"Can I ask a question without upsetting you or your girlfriend?" Carl asked, noticing how Stephine looked at him curiously when he said that.

"Sure," Max nodded.

"If you hadn't met Terry that day, what would you be doing now?"

"Oh, I'd probably be somewhere on the west coast or overseas, living a very quiet, down-to-Earth life," Max answered truthfully.

"Max, we can still have a quiet life if that's what you want; we don't need these big, fancy outings if you don't wish to be a part of that life," Terry spoke, noting how Max glanced at her as they sped down the road. She wasn't going to hide how her cheeks were heating from him, nor was she going to hide the fact that she wanted something more than just being his girlfriend. While she did enjoy being his girlfriend, she knew they would be great together if he wanted to take their relationship to the next level. She prayed that he did.

"Maxwell!" Paro greeted with a warm smile and wide-open arms. "How are you, my friend?" he asked with a thick French accent as he smiled at Max.

"Jamais mieux," Max greeted, seeing Terry's head snapping over at him when he spoke in French. "Paro, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend Terry Archer and her sister Stephine Archer along with her... male companion," keeping his amused smile hidden at how red Stephine's face was getting, "Carl Mortanhouse."

"Pleasure to meet you three, any friend of Max's is a friend of mine," Paro stated in a friendly tone. "Come, I have your table all ready for you."

"Thank you, Max," Terry uttered in a sweet tone as she gazed up at him when he held her chair out for her. Noting how Carl was doing the same for her sister, smiling inwardly, noticing how Stephine was secretly loving it, too!

"Now, what can I get you four to start this lovely evening?" Paro asked, looking around the table.

"A bottle of your best Hermitage Rouge," Max stated without peering at the wine list.

"Ah, an excellent choice, very good. Oh, you should try the duck; it's most delicious," Paro spoke, using his fingers to gesture to show how tasty it was.

"Oh? Is Anna the one cooking it?" Max inquired, knowing anything his wife touches turns out to be gold, food-wise.

"For you, my friend, she most certainly will," Paro stated with a smile on his lips.

"I'll have the duck then, and... nah, I trust her to pair it well with the sides," Max said, not bothering to open up his menu.

"I'll have the duck as well, but can I have risotto and asparagus with it?" Terry asked, peering up at the man who nodded as he wrote down their orders.

"I've heard your lamb chops are just to die for," Stephine spoke with glee in her voice.

"They are very tender and very succulent," Paro nodded. "It's one of the top dishes in the city. Would you like to try it?"

"Oh, yes, I would; I've been dying to eat here for ages," Stephine responded.

"And you, sir?"

"Lobster Thermidor," Carl said after a few minutes.

"A very good choice; I'll take those from you," Paro stated, gathering their menus. "I'll be right back with your wine."

"You didn't tell me you could speak French?!" Terry uttered, glaring at her boyfriend.

"I'm a man of many talents," Max retorted with a coy smirk.

"Why is the owner taking our order anyway?" Stephine asked, peering over at Max.

"Paro likes to handle that himself when I come in, so there're no mix-ups in my order," Max answered.

"And who's this, Anna?" Terry prodded.

"His wife," Max nodded to the kitchen door as Anna came bounding out of it.

"Maxwell!" Anna shouted, holding out her arms to him as Max got to his feet. "It's so good to see you again!" she sighed as she hugged him. "Who are your friends?" Anna asked, looking around the table. "Oh, finally brought a girlfriend along, about time," she teased once Max had introduced her to his dinner companions. "You must have really made an impression on my dear friend. He normally doesn't reserve a table when he decides to dine here."

"If I did, Anna, I would be as big as a house with all that fine cooking you do," Max stated, getting a wide smile out of her.

"Well, just means I'm going to ensure the four of you get the best we can offer you here. I do hope you enjoy your meal, but I must head back to the kitchen; as you can see, we're very busy," Anna gestured to the dining area, causing the three at the table to nod in understanding. "Max, you have to come by more often. You know we'll make room for you and your guest," she spoke, lightly placing a kiss on Max's right cheek. "We have to go back to Bordeaux again. I know Paro would love it."

"Sure, it was a lovely city," Max nodded, feeling Stephine's and Terry's eyes on him.

"So you vacation in France, huh?" Terry mused with a hint of annoyance that he would keep that hidden from her.

"Sometimes," Max admitted.

"And Bordeaux to boot, just how many people do you know?!" Stephine asked, keeping her voice down.

"Quite a few."

"And were you thinking of inviting me along on this trip?" Terry asked accusingly.

"If or when they have free time to travel, I would ask you," Max said truthfully.

"Good, you should take your girlfriend to France with you," Terry uttered with a smile on her lips.

"How often do you travel to France?" Carl asked, knowing he wouldn't be able to afford Max's jet-setting life.

"Once or twice a year, if I feel like going to France," Max said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"And have you been anywhere else?" Terry asked in a quizzical tone.

"Italy, Germany, the UK, the Virgin Islands, Greece," Max stated, rattling off the list of countries he's traveled to.

"Hmm... then we must revisit these places and make new memories for ourselves," Terry uttered with a sly smile as she peered at Max.

"So, I take it you've never been to France?" Max asked, looking at Terry and Stephine.

"Once, when we were fourteen, but we stayed in Paris. We've always wanted to go back, but well, life got in the way," Terry sighed, leaning against Max, dreaming what it would be like walking down the French streets hand in hand with Max.

"I so have to show Mom this place," Stephine muttered, quickly pulling out her phone. Snapping off pictures, taking one of her and Carl together and of Terry kissing Max on the cheek before texting them to their mother.

"Now you're just rubbing it in?!"

"Mmmhmm," Stephine texted back, keeping her chuckle to herself. "You better tell me how their food is; I'm so going to be jealous!"

"I will, Mom," Stephine replied, glancing up when Paro had uncorked their wine bottle. Posting the pictures to her Facebook page, unaware that in a few moments, Tera Monroe's drink would be flying from her lips when the pictures filled her wall when she read the header of Stephine's post: 'Having dinner with my new man, my sister, and one of the owners of La Panoramique.'

"So, Max, has Anna spoken to you about returning to Bordeaux?" Paro asked as he poured Max his glass of wine and repeated it for the rest of his companions.

"She has," Max nodded, feeling Terry's eyes burning holes into him.

"We really must go this summer; Bordeaux is always beautiful that time of the year," Paro spoke, setting the bottle down and lightly placing the cork back in it.

"Sure, just let me know when," Max uttered, lifting his wine glass, saluting his friend.

"Now, I must return to my duties; if you need anything, just let me know, alright?" Paro spoke in a friendly tone as he lightly touched Max's shoulder.

"Max?!" Terry's voice had a hard tone to it.

"Want to go to France with me?" Max asked, peering over at her, who nodded her head very vehemently. Picturing how Terry would look as they strolled along the Gironde Estuary as the sun sets for the evening, wondering if those oranges and reds that played along the water would only enhance Terry's beauty. "Then you best make sure your passport is up to date."

"Oh, I will; I'm not letting you jet off to France without me," Terry stated with determination. Noting how Max's mood soured when he pulled his phone out and noted who was calling him. Seeing how he swiped to end the call, only to have it ring once again in his hand.

"I have to take this, or she won't leave me alone," Max whispered to Terry, who nodded in understanding.

"Is something wrong?" Carl asked, confused as he watched Max strolling quickly towards the exit.

"Nothing to worry about," Terry said, taking a sip of her wine.

"What?" Max answered once he stepped outside of the restaurant. He didn't want to ruin the atmosphere of his friend's place or run customers off when he knew cursing would be involved.

"Maxwell? Why didn't you tell me you were an owner of La Panoramique?!" Pinching the bridge of his nose as he sighed. Not realizing that Darcy and his father were in the same room with very surprised looks on their faces. However, MJ was the only one smiling at the turn of events. Only when Darcy grumbled loudly did Max realize their conversation was being listened to.

"Because you didn't need to know. Because for every second of my life, you and your husband have been harping on me about how Darcy is this, Darcy is a part of that and whatnot."

"But son, please, do you know how long I've been wanting to visit that place?"

"I know; who do you think is the one that's keeping you from it?" Max asked with a wicked smile.

"Maxwell!" Tera gasped in shock. "You would do that to your own mother?!"

"How often did you hide me away because you thought I was an embarrassment to you and him?"

"I'm on my knees begging you, son, just let me experience what that restaurant has to offer."

"I'll think about it, now is that all? You're interfering with my date," Max stated in a cold, monotone voice.

"I understand, Maxwell, please, please, please, I'm asking you; there has to be some part of you that still cares for me; there has to be otherwise; why do you answer my calls? Please, see it in your heart to give your mother an ounce of happiness as I know visiting that restaurant will give me."

"Fine, only if it will get you off my back and off my phone. However... am I on speaker?"

"Yes, you are, Maxwell."

"However, Darcy, your bitch ass will never, I mean never, step foot into this place. I personally know how much you want in here thinking you can use this place to up your reputation; that's never, ever going to happen if I can help it. Now, don't call me; I'll call you," Max stated, hearing his sister cursing at him before he ended the call. Pocketing his phone before turning back towards the door. Shaking off the funk he felt whenever he interacted with his parents before entering the establishment.

"Are you okay?" Terry whispered low as she placed a hand on Max's left leg. Seeing how Stephine, too, was eyeing his demeanor.

"I'm fine, just a little misunderstanding," Max said, keeping his private life secret from Carl.

"Oh, my, God!" Stephine uttered from behind her cupped hand as her lamb chop just melted in her mouth.

"Oh, you so have to try this duck, Steph; it's just amazing?!" Terry squealed in her seat as they swapped each other a bite of their own meals.

Max just smiled down at his plate when it appeared that Terry and Stephine were having mini orgasms in their mouths. Seeing Carl just nodding when Stephine asked him how he was enjoying his lobster as he chewed his bite. He personally would never eat it; he wasn't a fan of lobster eggs or fish eggs, for that matter, that was in the sauce.

"Thank you, Max," Stephine said after swallowing her bite as he refilled her glass along with everyone else's and his as well, the last drop of the bottle falling down onto its brethren

"You're welcome," Max replied, setting the bottle off to the side and placing the cork back in it.

"Okay, that was better than I dreamt it would be," Terry sighed in bliss as she leaned back once she had eaten her last bite.

"I know; I just wish I had one more bite," Stephine said, looking forlornly at her empty plate the lamb chop bone picked clean.

"Best lobster I've ever had; thank you for inviting me," Carl said, flashing Stephine a warm smile, which caused a gradual heat to flood Stephine's cheeks.

"You're welcome, Carl," Stephine said in a sweet tone as she reached over and slipped her hand into his. "Thank you, both of you, for letting us join you on your date night."

"I'm happy to sis, glad to finally see you out and about again," Terry uttered, smiling coyly at her sister.

"So... anyone up for dessert?" Max asked, inching back when both ladies' eyes shot to him with a look that said don't toy with them.

"You mean it, Max?" Terry inquired; other than the food, their desserts were the highlight of food critics when the city paper would run a review of the place. Throwing her arms around him when Max nodded and placed a very steamy kiss on his lips.

Stephine just couldn't help herself as she pulled out her phone and opened up her text to her mother. "Mom?! Oh, my God, you just won't believe how good the food is here! I had the lamb chop, and let me just say, better than what anyone says. Terry had the duck, it was the special for the night, and it was to die for!" Dancing a little in her seat as she sent a picture of everyone's meal.

"Stephine, it's not nice to torment your mother."

"You're the one that wanted to know how good the food was. Oh, and we're having dessert!"

"No!"

"Mmmhmm, I'm so in heaven!" Stephine saw how Max gestured to one of the waiters while Paro was busy ensuring the other customers were enjoying their meals after their table had been cleared.

"Yes, sir, can I help you?" the man spoke in a polite tone.

"Can you get us your dessert menu and another glass of Hermitage Rouge that we can enjoy with our treats?" Max spoke, seeing their nods as he peered at the three of them.

"Certainly, sir, I will be right back."

"Max, have you had their desserts before?" Terry asked in a quizzical light.

"I have; I'm partial to their Cherry Clafoutis, Babas au Rhum, Lemon Tarte, but the rest are pretty good, hence why I'd be big as a house if I ate here all the time," Max said with a good-natured smile.

"What's the Cherry Clafoutis?" Carl asked, very interested in it.

"Think of it like a pancake with lots of black cherries in it with a dusting of powder sugar."

"And the Babas au Rhum?" Stephine inquired, hanging onto every word.

"A citrus-scented yeast cake studded with rum-soaked raisins and then brushed with a boozy syrup laced with apricot and vanilla, or that's how Anna explained it to me when I first asked about it," Max stated, "although..." His voice died away as he looked over at Terry.

"Yes?" Terry mused, feeling her body heat beneath his gaze.

"You should try the Strawberry and Vanilla Charlotte," Max said with a charming smile.

"Why?"

"It's rich and sweet... like you are," Max said, allowing his innuendo to hang in the air. Wondering if she was thinking about last night when he was between her legs.

"Max?!" Terry gasped, her face burning red hot, indicating her mind was indeed thinking along those lines.

"What, I'm only telling the truth," Max uttered in a sinful tone as their waiter approached.

"I'll have the Lemon Tarte," Max said, without even opening his menu as the man poured them their glasses of wine. Seeing the man write down his order on their ticket while the rest browsed on what they wanted.

"Max, these dishes are single servings, right?" Terry asked from around her menu.

"They are."

"I'll try the Strawberry and Vanilla Charlotte," Terry said, handing the man her menu. "Not a word," she uttered in a firm tone at the coy smirk that was on his lips.

"I like that one; it's really good," the man offered.

"I'll try the Cherry Clafoutis," Carl said; being a cherry fan, he had to know what it tasted like.

"They all sound so good!" Stephine whined in a little pout that she couldn't try them all in one sitting. "I'll try the Crème au Caramel," she spoke, peering up at the man and handing him her menu.

"I'll get those right out to you," he uttered before bounding off to the kitchen.

"Before anyone takes a bite," Stephine said, stilling their forks as she quickly snapped off photos of the desserts. Typing out to her mother, "Here's your dessert, Mom?!" Smiling to herself, knowing she was going to get an earful once Carl dropped her off.​