One day, while Maxwell was heading home, his car broke down. He had to take public transport. Coincidentally, two staff members who wanted to speak with him after their meeting entered the same vehicle. They greeted him with bright smiles.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Maxwell," they said.
"Thank you, ladies," Maxwell responded.
"You're welcome," they replied.
The first lady introduced herself. "My name is Efi."
"That's nice," said Maxwell.
The second lady added, "My name is Deborah, but my friends call me Debby."
"Nice to meet you both," said Maxwell. "I think you weren't at the meeting this afternoon?"
Efi responded, "No, we were sent to deliver a document."
As the car moved along, both ladies, who were seated beside Maxwell, began to touch him subtly. Feeling disturbed and restless by their inappropriate gestures, Maxwell eventually told the driver, "Sir, please stop here. I'll get down."
The ladies protested, "But sir, you haven't reached your destination."
"I know," he replied. "Thank you. I'm fine here."
After Maxwell alighted, the driver drove off. The ladies laughed.
Efi said, "That guy is so handsome and smells amazing. I must have him."
Deborah replied, "Not so fast. Let me have my chance."
Efi suggested, "Let's play the game-and whoever wins, gets him."
Still standing at the spot, Maxwell chuckled to himself. "What kind of ladies are these? In every garden where there is an Adam, there must be an Eve and a snake. I will never eat their apple, no matter how hard they try. Let me go check on my car at the mechanic."
Later, Efi arrived home and told her father, "Daddy, I need a car-one of the latest models. I'm tired of using public transport. It's embarrassing."
Her father asked, "What happened? Why this sudden request? Is something wrong?"
"No, sir," Efi replied. "But you know how most guys are these days. If a lady doesn't meet their expectations, they won't even consider her for a relationship. I need a car so I can look attractive and appealing. I'm no longer a child-I'm a lady, almost ready for marriage."
Her father laughed. "You're so funny, my daughter."
"It's not a joke, sir. I need to look presentable to any man that wants to marry me."
"Okay, I'll get you one."
Efi thought to herself, My dad doesn't even know my real plan. Marriage? I'm not ready. I just want Maxwell to notice me. I can tell he's an untouched fruit-and I want to be the one to taste it.
Days later, Efi drove to work in a brand-new Lexus Jeep. She celebrated with coworkers during lunch, which caught Maxwell's attention. After lunch, she went to Maxwell's office with a seductive smile.
"Good afternoon, sir."
"Afternoon," he replied.
"Can I have your private number?" she asked.
"I don't think that's necessary," Maxwell responded.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Maxwell asked.
"It's me," Deborah replied quickly.
"Okay, come in."
As the door opened, Efi was walking out and crossed paths with Deborah. They exchanged cold looks. Deborah walked in.
"How may I help you?" Maxwell asked.
"Maxwell, it's me-Debby. The lady you were in the car with the other day."
"Okay. What can I do for you?"
"Whatever you think is right, sir."
"How do you mean?"
"I just want to share some sweet words with you," Deborah said.
Maxwell smiled. "Sweet words?"
"Yes, sir."
Just then, Sofia, Maxwell's personal assistant, walked in and said, "I just got an idea for the new project!"
Maxwell interrupted Deborah. "Debby, please excuse us. I have important matters to discuss with Sofia. We'll talk later."
As she turned to leave, Bright also entered. Deborah left reluctantly, muttering, "So this house rat, Sofia, came in and ruined my game? No! I can't let this continue. I must get rid of her soon if my plan is to work."
Outside, she ran into Efi again.
"Efi, come here!" Deborah called.
"I've already told you-the guy belongs to me," Efi snapped.
"No, he doesn't," Deborah shot back.
"You're lying!"
"No, you are!"
Their argument escalated until a lady named Jimmy walked up to them. "What's going on here?" she asked.
"None of your business!" they both yelled.
Jimmy said, "You're not fighting over Maxwell, are you? Because I know both of you too well. I'll kill anyone who gets in my way-Maxwell is my man!"
Deborah replied, "You must be dreaming. Go wash your face."
"Are you talking to me like that?" Jimmy fumed. "I'll rearrange your face if you're not careful."
Efi interjected, "Two rats fighting over meat they can't even taste, let alone eat."
Jimmy hissed, "The end will justify the means."
They all stormed off angrily, while the ever-gentle Maxwell was still in his office brainstorming how to help the company win the national contract.
One day, while on his way to Toronto, Maxwell stopped at a fuel station and spotted Deborah refueling her Jeep. He quietly turned off the road to avoid her, but she had already seen him.
"That's definitely Maxwell," Deborah thought. "He turned because of me. I must have him."
She left the station and pursued him, but Maxwell, noticing through his side mirror, turned into a grocery store to shake her off.
Deborah parked nearby. "Where did he go? What was I thinking? Why can't I just focus? No! I must find another way. I'll be the first in his office tomorrow before those lionesses show up."
The next day, Deborah arrived early at the office, holding a file as a cover to enter Maxwell's office. But she only met Sofia and Bright.
"Ahhh," she exclaimed in frustration.
"What's the matter, Debby?" Bright asked.
"You won't understand," she replied and stormed out.
A few minutes later, Maxwell arrived and greeted Sofia and Bright.
"You're welcome," they replied.
Sofia said, "About ten minutes ago, Deborah came here with a file, asking for you. But when she realized you weren't around, she refused to leave the file."
"She came here?" Maxwell asked.
"Yes," Bright confirmed.
"This lady must be up to something," Maxwell said.
"What's going on?" they both asked.
Maxwell replied, "I think she desperately wants a man-but not me."
"Hmmm, I can sense that," Bright added.
Sofia smiled. "She's not too bad, though. You could consider a relationship."
Maxwell replied, smiling, "Thank you."
---
Question:
Will Maxwell love anyone among them?
Who will have Maxwell at the end?