Chapter Twenty-Two - Adriana Gervais - 19 yrs old

Ana hated when people did what Maximus did. He assumed she was a fool and wouldn’t see past his words. Maximus assumed Ana was too foolish not to look closely at people or have a single opinion of her own.

He interrupted her, making this space more useful to her. That had Ana now sitting in a chair, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair, while she watched Maximus pontificate about how horribly mistreated, he was by that guard. How George threatened him and said he wasn’t worthy of feeling safe in his new home. Or comforted by having his personal items around him.

Maximus made George sound like an honorary guard in some corner of the realm that didn’t count for anything. Not the head of her security detail.

In Maximus’ narrative, he was the much maligned important official. He saw no purpose for Adriana needing to be protected. Or how he could benefit from her protection.

Within a minute of him opening his mouth, Ana could