MAXIMILLIAN

"Mr. Maximilian, are you still awake?"

"I am Samantha. Why are you up so late."

"I went for water. Do you need anything?"

"No need, thank you."

"All right. Good night, sir."

"Goodnight."

"Sir?"

"Yes Samantha?"

"Is everything OK?"

"Yes. Why?"

"You look kind of sullen."

"I am all right, it just seems to you."

"Sure?"

"I'm just tired from work, everything's fine. Go to sleep, Samantha."

"All right, sir, good night."

I nod and she leaves.

Samantha is my housekeeper, an older Latin American who was left without a husband and children as a very young woman. After that she did not marry, she worked for my mother, and now she works and lives with me. I grew up with her and I respected her very much, for me she was always something like a second mother.

I look at the pile of papers on the table, I have finished and checked everything, some even more than three times. There is no more work for me to run away from my thoughts.

I sigh painfully and stand up to a table by the wall where I stop pouring myself another glass of whiskey. I raise my glass, take a sip, and head for my room.

I look out the window at the lights of the big city, trying not to think about her. But it doesn't work for me. I see her smiling face in the shadow of the glass as I clearly hear her laughter in my ears as if she is there with me.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Come on Max, come on!!

I tell myself, drain my glass and throw it off the wall watching the pieces of glass scatter around the room.

Nicole...

Who is this woman in general and why the fuck can't I get her out of my head from the moment I met her? She is always there, she is always present in my thoughts. Work doesn't help me anymore!

I saw her again today, this time she was different than ever before. And she was not alone, she was in the company of no less and no more than a handsome and successful doctor.

I came half an hour earlier to a restaurant where I was supposed to have dinner with business partners to make sure everything was okay. In fact, nothing happened.

I spotted them as soon as I stepped behind the bar. They looked like a happy young married couple. I barely recognized her with a wide smile on her face. I had never seen her like that, that smile was sincere from the heart, her eyes shone as she caressed it with her gaze. She was somehow different.

He sat across from her, telling her something obviously very funny and watching her closely enjoying every moment.

I watched them like that for almost twenty minutes, and the scene almost didn't change. They talked, laughed as if everything in the world was perfect. He touched... every time he had a chance to touch her he did it. For the arm, for the shoulder, for the cheek, for the chin, for the lips and for that beautiful long hair in curls.

Anger grew in me like an oncoming volcanic lava with each of his touches and that enchanting smile on her face that caused it. She didn't look like herself. She didn't look like a serious doctor from the office who tortured me with her look. This Nicole was much prettier and I think I fell in love, but in vain because she was with another man at heart.

I hear the sound of an email on my laptop, sit down at a table and open it in hopes of finding more work there that can kill my insomnia because of that woman.

Don't forget to send me copies of the contract and all the documentation regarding the new partners and the Turks. Leo.

Disappointed, I closed the email, but before I could walk away from the table, the phone rang.

"Hello."

"You are not sleeping?"

"Obviously not."

"What is it, lover, are you tormented by love problems?"

"What love problems Leo, what are you banging on?"

"I heard your fiancée found a boyfriend." He was visibly amused by this situation, and I regretted that it was not closer to me to send him to Nicole's clinic again.

"What are you talking about? What kind of fiancée?"

"Don't pretend you don't know what I am talking about Max. The whole of New York is still rinsing its mouth with you and your secret fiancée Nicole. I wonder what reporters would say if they found out you met her first and only love today?"

The first and only love...

I felt like someone had kicked me in the chest and blew all the air out of my lungs. I was silent for a while listening to Leo unconsciously sweeten up with my pain.

"And if I had met Nicole and Stephanie's mentor today. You should keep an eye on that one. Every day with a man like that, it's not harmless at all."

The laughter stopped and it was my turn to enjoy. I would pay millions if I could see his face now.

"You're really a scum, you know."

"What's the matter with you? I'm just stating the facts, Nicole introduced him to me today as Stephanie's mentor, and they were talking about Stephanie when I approached them."

"Oh come on please don't pass this on to me and Stephanie. That man you met today is crazy about Nicole, and from what I hear she's not indifferent either."

"I wonder why Stephanie told you about her sister's suitor.she's not jealous of her or she just doesn't want his closeness to be suspicious..."

"You're a jerk..."

"Relax, man, I think it's perfectly normal for a trainee to call her mentor Bear."

"You know what? I really wanted to try to connect you with Nicole. Now you can forget about it..."

I kept quiet.

"Let me ask you. Can I borrow the keys to your cottage?" He continued.

"You can, why?"

"Well, I've been thinking of having a nice romantic weekend for myself and Stephanie. I'm preparing a surprise for her."

"So why don't you do it at your cottage?"

"Well, because yours is bigger, and I need an extra floor for Nicole and William, I want them to be comfortable and have their own privacy. I think you understand, after so much time they're together again, they must have wanted each other..."

"You little..." I stopped.

The sound of his laughter echoed in my ears, and in front of my eyes the pictures of Nicole and William alone in the cottage, in front of the fireplace, caused nausea in my stomach.

"Concentrate on Leo's work!"

"I will, boss."

"Okay, I'll send you all the necessary documents right away in the morning."

"Max!"

"Say it."

"Brother I'm sorry, did I overdo it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me, I've known you for years. I know you like that woman."

"I have nothing to do with Stephanie's sister Leo."

“You don’t, but you’d love to have.” He giggled again and with that this conversation was over.

"Goodnight." I said and hung up.

I spent the rest of the night awake in bed by a large window overlooking the city. In the shadow on the window glass I saw only her...

....

Nicole

In front of the building Will gave me another of his invigorating hugs.

"Thank you for tonight. You have restored my will to live, now I am full of energy again." He winked at me.

"You think like a teddy bear Willy." I smiled.

"Yeah, just like teddy bear Willy." He returned the smile.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"You reminded me of a girl I used to be and briefly brought me back to my childhood."

"You're still that little girl Nicole."

"I am not"

"Of course you are. She's still there in you, you just need to let her out. I know life was hard for you and Stephanie, but now it's all in the past. You deserve to be happy."

"I'm happy."

"Are you?"

"I don't know, I guess I am. Are you happy?"

"I think I am, at least I'm trying, but still not as much as I want to be."

"What it means?"

"I want to be like this every night, I want to be this happy. We definitely need to do this again."

There was something in his gaze that bothered me, but I didn’t know how to explain it. And those words...

"Certainly. We still have a lot to make up for."

“Are you working tomorrow?” He asked me.

"Yes, all day."

"Oh, see you then another day." He made a sad face.

"You can come to the office tomorrow, I'll find time for those beautiful teeth."

"Still, this was enough for me tonight, thank you." We both laughed at that.

"I will have you in my chair Limberg, just so you know." I smiled wickedly, then added. "I'm leaving now, before you cry."

"Come on and say hello to Stephanie."

"I will."

"See you."

"See you and good night Will."

"Night!" He waved at me as I entered the building.

Entering the apartment, I ran into a nervous Stephanie.

"How was it?"

"What?"

"Well at dinner!"

"And great, Will greeted you."

"Excuse me?"

"William Stephanie, your mentor. Remember."

"But I know who you're talking about, but I'm not asking you that."

"Him?"

"Well, woman, tell me what happened between you? What were you talking about? Were there any more hugs like that? Did he kiss you? Tell me..."

"Don't talk nonsense, Stephanie, what kind of kiss is that to you? It was a friendly date."

"Nicole I'm serious, sit there and talk!!"

I knew she wouldn’t leave me alone until she found out what was going on tonight so I sat down and told her.

She looked at me kind of weird as I told her everything. She didn’t say a word until I was done. Sometimes she would ask a question, but even that rarely. She just stared at me and looked at me somehow differently. I didn’t know how to describe it, but at the time I didn’t even care too much about it.

"Now you know everything." I told her after I finished the story.

"I know." She confirmed.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"I am." She answered hesitantly. "I'm just a little shocked by Max."

"Why Max?"

"Well, he just showed up like that."

"And it's not just that, he had a business dinner at that restaurant. But I don't understand why he approached us and he was somehow..."

"What?"

"I don't know Stephanie, he was weird."

"How weird?"

"Like he was mad at me or something. I don't know, his eyes looked kind of angry to me."

"What's weird about that, that man is always looking dark and kind of angry."

"You are right." I laughed.

"And Leo loves him so I have to put up with him."

"Ah you and your blondy Leo." I winked at her, then headed for my room. "I'm going to dedicate myself to my neglected job."

"Business. Again? Really Nicole?"

"What?"

"Nothing sister, just work and don't do anything else. You are workaholic!"

"Yes! Let me be! I am that to myself and no one else !!" I quoted one of her sayings and we both laughed.

"Are you going to sleep?" I asked.

She just nodded and I walked out.

After almost three hours of paperwork, I felt very exhausted.

I'll finish this tomorrow, I'm going to bed now.

I say to myself and head to the kitchen for water. I went out into the living room and saw a light in Stephanie's room, the door was not closed completely. I head towards her to shut them up and hear Leo and her talking via skype.

"Stephanie, please calm down."  I hear Leo's slightly upset voice.

"You don't understand, you just don't understand anything." Stephanie on the verge of tears suits him.

It's not like they're arguing again, I'm going to beat that guy up because he's so sick...

"I don't understand you because you're talking nonsense."

"If I'm talking nonsense, why are you even talking to me?"

"Because I love you!" He tells her, and she doesn't answer.

"Look." Leo continues. "I know it's hard for you now, I see it. But why don't you just go and talk to her about it?"

With who? About what? What's going on there?

I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations and I never did, especially not Stephanie, but this time I could not resist the urge. I couldn’t stay indifferent to her hurt voice, I knew something was definitely wrong.

"I can't! She's my sister, she gave up everything for me, and I ruined her life."

"Don't be silly, I've never seen anyone love their sister like she loves you. Nicole would kill and die for you without thinking and doing so willingly."

Are they talking about me? She ruined my life??

"You see, that's the problem."

"What exactly is that?" Leo asked sarcastically.

"In that she does everything for me, I never did anything for her except that I was a hard and ungrateful brat she had to take care of all her life."

That was not true !!!

"If I had died that day Leo, if I had died the same day as my parents Nicole would have been free! Understand? She would have suffered yes, but that suffering would have passed. She would have recovered and resumed her life. No burden on her back which she didn't get it of her own free will or mistake. And by now she would probably be married, have a husband, children, a family and be happy. She would wear that beautiful smile on her face every day, like she did today with Will. "

She grunted in tears, and my heart was torn to pieces with each of her tears.

Why did Stephanie think she was a burden to me? It is not a burden to me, it has never been a burden to me. She is my sister, my only family, my world.

"Stephanie stop that nonsense right away, otherwise I'm calling Nicole from these feet and explaining this to her."

"Don't you dare. You don't have her number, after all."

"She treated me, normally I have her number."

"Leo!!!"

"You're making all this fuss about a mentor you didn't even recognize and he lived with you."

"First thing, he's not called a mentor but William! Second thing he didn't live with us, but he came often. And third, if you had listened to what I was saying at all, you would have known it wasn't about him but about Nicole."

"I know it's about Nicole, but that guy turned your mind."

"He didn't turn my mind, but opened my eyes."

"I don't know your sister best, but one thing is for sure, that woman is good in her skin. She is very successful. She earned all that success on her own without anyone's help. She is young, beautiful, handsome, educated, successful and happy. What she needs more in life? She is the most successful woman I know, and I know a lot of successful women... "

Stephanie just kept quiet so Leo continued.

"Being strict and not wanting a man in her life is quite clear and logical, it suits her. She is serious about the job she does and obviously her desire is to dedicate her life to her job in which she is very good. She doesn't want a man, because she doesn't need it. It would only bother her to make her wishes come true, Stephanie. After all, let's be realistic, a few men can deserve such a woman and very few men can cope with her. "

"Oh come on, please."

"It's a living truth, Stephanie, men are afraid of women like that because they know they can't do anything to them."

"That's nonsense!"

"It's not nonsense. Think about it, can you imagine Nicole depending on someone?"

"I can not."

"There you go."

"Love does not mean depending on someone or being weaker than someone, Leo. She is a strong and capable woman, but like any other woman she needs a man who will be with her no matter what. Who will hug her when she is tired, cheer her up. When she is sad and to be there when she needs it most. Everyone, even the strongest woman, needs a man in life, a man who loves her, cares for her, cares as if she is something most valuable in the world. A person who would be with her in both good and evil. She needs the man in her life, my sister deserves nothing less."

"Stephanie..."

"You have no idea how I felt today when I realized, when I remembered who she really was. If you only saw that smile when she walked into the apartment after dinner with William..."

"Maybe she just fell in love."

"No, you don't understand. I know my sister, Leo. That was old Nicole today."

"Old Nicole?"

"Yes, that smile, that gleam in her eyes brought back to me the memory of a sister who seemed to have died  long ago so I could live."

"Don't talk nonsense."

"William came back, just like that with one of his appearances. I didn't even recognize her at first. I only realized late at night as she talked about meeting him. Today in the parking lot, when they saw each other I looked at her in a weird way because she looked different to me, but I couldn't figure out why. Nicole wasn't always a cold and too serious woman dedicated to work. She used to be a happy young girl with a loving look and a beautiful smile that shone on her face whenever I looked at her. "

"Wow, that really doesn't sound like Nicole."

"Don't be rude to my sister!"

"You know what?  I love and respect Nicole. Both as a woman and as a doctor, but that she's an ice queen, that's a harsh truth. I can't imagine her the way you describe her."

"Well that's your problem!"

I don't even know how long that conversation lasted or what they were talking about. All I know is that I was sitting in front of Stephanie's door in the dim light losing my mind.

Suddenly, Stephanie opened the door, illuminating me with light coming from her room.

"Nicole."

Her eyes were swollen with tears and her nose red. She looked at me and didn't know what to say, and at that moment I didn't know either. I got up from the floor and hugged her tightly, we both cried.

"What kind of nonsense is that, Stephanie? You're not a burden to me, you've never been a burden to me, you're my gift from God, you're my crazy one in life, without you there wouldn't be this Nicole standing in front of you."

"You love me too much Nicole to admit it, but I'm one big mess in your life. Think about what your life would have looked like if I hadn't woken up from a coma in that hospital."

"I think about it every day and believe me it wouldn't be life."

"Nicole it would be, you would have cried. You would cry a lot, but with time you would get over it and come to terms with the fact that you lost your family, and then you would get up and move on. You would dedicate life to yourself, you would be successful and happy in life. You and William... "

"Stephanie !!!" I interrupted her because I couldn't listen to that nonsense anymore. So I continued. "Actually, you're the one who doesn't understand, Stephanie. That day when I woke up alone in the hospital room remembering absolutely every bit of the accident and completely alone. When the doctors told me my parents were dead, my world stopped. It was all over. Stephanie, I couldn't breathe because of pain, I swear to God I would have died on the spot if I hadn't seen a little blonde girl on an oversized hospital bed soon after, you were in coma and from that moment I knew that whatever happens from that moment on, I will be there with my little sister that day Stephanie You became my life, you aren't burden, you are the light that kept me alive when everything around me was darkness. You weren't my burden, you were my salvation, my way out and the reason to fight, because life for the two of us went on. It was on us what we will do with it."

"I never thanked you for that."

"For what, Stephanie?"

"Because you didn't let me wake up alone in that sad hospital room and that oversized bed."

I smiled as a tear slid down my face.

"I know I wasn't the best sister in the world. I know I've been hard many times and I've done many things wrong; but you have to know one thing and remember that Stephanie, I did what I thought was best for you and what I thought was right. I did what I only knew and I tried. I'm sorry I couldn't always be the best sister for you. I'm sorry I didn't play with you and I didn't devote enough time to you because of the whole situation."

"You don't have to say that, I understand it, Nicole. I understand everything."

"I'm sorry you missed my smile. I'm really sorry."

"You shouldn't be, I love you Nicole." She hugged me.

"I love you to, little sis..."

That night I slept with my sister's head in my lap. I stroked her long blonde hair just like I used to when we were just carefree kids.

Stephanie quickly fell asleep, and I couldn't sleep for a long time. My thoughts were occupied by beautiful brown eyes...

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