Max almost laughed out loud. When he followed Celine and Dante to the patio, he was ready to pummel him down to a pulp and show him that Celine was his and nobody will take her away from him. But this guy, Dante, was a clown, and he could not compare to Max, except when it came to having parents and having a family. He had Clara and Jeremy, but in this society, being an orphan is still a stigma. Max did not have an invitation to this party, but Celine invited him, and since he was in town, he was not staying at home while his girlfriend socialized at another party that looked like an auction. So he decided to crash it, anyway. He learned from Clara that Celine’s dad had planned for her to meet several young bachelors, so she knew what she was missing before committing to a relationship with Max. Celine had definitely objected, but Nathan put h

Raffy leaned in for a kiss when he felt a palm covering his lips. Max grabbed his face and brusquely pushed him away from Celine. ‘I think you’ve squeezed and sniffed my girlfriend enough.’ Raffy almost fell flat on his back when Max released him and wiped his hand on his trousers.‘Oh baby, you’re back. I missed you,’ Celine said before reaching up for a kiss.Max touched his lips briefly to hers and whispered, ‘Babe, your father is watching right now. Let’s not give him ammunition to fire on both of us.’Celine looked at her father and glared at him. ‘I don’t care. You can take me in front of everyone here to prove we are together.’ she said a little too indignantly as she tightened her hold on his neck.

‘No, but…’ Tory raised her right brow. ‘What? You think you’re the only one who can do it?’ ‘I’m not going to defend myself. What I do with the men in those pictures is my business, but if you should know. Most of them are business deals, just like the one you are entering now. I don’t require the men to sleep with me. Plus, most of them could've been my son. What would he think if he found out I slept with men who could have been one of your friends... I mean his friends.’ ‘So do not worry, Max Johnson, I am not here to sleep with you. And please call me Tory as everyone does. It’s my designer label.’ ‘So what is it you really need from me?’ ‘Nothing. I wanted to be your friend.’ She smiled as she picked up the dessert spoon. ‘I don’t want Nathan and his kind to succeed. They should change their ways already. Plus, I want you to get the girl and be happy because that makes me happy.’ She said as she looked at him sincerely. Tory’s face was so expressive, and it looked like she

‘Why are you guys inside our suite? Who let you in?’ Clara demanded when she finally got her affairs in order.‘We got in last night, and you said you wanted to rehearse and set up the equipment before the presentation, so here we are. Tada!’ Max said with jazz hands waving in the air. She just rolled her eyes. ‘You guys are too early. I still need a nap. Baz didn’t let me sleep last night. Please leave.’ she plopped down on the sofa, snuggled with a pillow, then yawned and closed her eyes.‘Clara, are you serious? Do you really want us to leave?’ Jeremy asked. He stood up, ready to leave at a moment’s notice. After everything else, he will always do what will be best for Clara, so if she wants to rest, then he would leave her alone and herd the group

During the wedding their family had a truce, all for Clara’s sake. Celine declared a ceasefire and said hello to her parents. Took a few pictures with her sister like they were one happy family, even though underneath, there was tension every time Nathan Jacobs, her father, glared at Max. If she did not like him now, she knows that whatever she does will never please him. So she concentrated on having a good time with Max instead.They were slow dancing to the music, Celine’s arms wrapped around Max’s neck while he had his arms around her waist. ‘I keep on telling your dad and anybody that would listen that I would marry you someday, but I never asked if you would want to marry me? I don’t see myself with anyone else other than you in my life forever, and my heart breaks every time your parents say no to me, but I would like to ask you, anyway. Celine Marie Jacobs, would you m