Chapter 3 He had a joke in mind

By the end of the day, Maxwell had a complete plan and was prepared to carry it out. Before heading for the elevator, he instructed Claire to cancel all of his meetings.

The elevator squealed open into the foyer a minute later. Maxwell left the house and went outside. As he passed, everyone's heads turned. For Maxwell, it had always been that way. The women couldn't take their eyes off of him since he was the picture of perfection. A man who has appeared on the cover of All Business Central, the leading business magazine, for three years in a row. Among other things, he has been called a hot bachelor and sexy. Since the magazine's most recent issue, he had already become accustomed to the attention.

Doorman Clarence greeted him with "Have a nice day sir" as he opened the door.

When Maxwell saw Patrick and the car waiting for him in front of the building, he gave him a brief nod as he left. Claire didn't need to be reminded to contact Patrick to prepare the automobile each time he left the office. After entering, Patrick held the door open and shut it.

"Where to sir?" After getting inside the car and starting it, Patrick inquired.

"Freddie and Co," Maxwell answered.

A few minutes later, Maxwell reached Freddie and Co. He exited the vehicle and walked into the building, heading for the elevator. The receptionist stared at him as he walked in, unable to speak.

He pressed the elevator button and bided his time.

He detested waiting so much.

The elevator arrived quickly, and Maxwell moved aside as passengers got out. The final woman, like the other women, stepped out of the elevator and stared at him before passing by. Ignoring her, Maxwell walked inside the elevator while glancing down at his phone. As he did so, someone else got out, bumping shoulders and dropping a bag. Because of the wait and the fact that this person was unable to keep an eye on their whereabouts, Maxwell was already on the verge of losing it. He was going to yell at her when he noticed the woman bending to retrieve her handbag and then the infant dozing in her arms. Her hair was the same shade of brown as the woman who was carrying her. She was quite cute. Even though he wasn't a kid at heart, there was something about this child that made him smile.

The woman looked at him, and he paused as he leaned to assist her in gathering her belongings.

When they grabbed her belongings, Scarlett grinned at him.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." As they both got up from the ground, he remarked.

Coffee-brown eyes. A simple bun for hair. Work attire that was both professional and sexy.

Something about her piqued Maxwell's curiosity, even though he never imagined he would ever be drawn to a simple lady.

She offered him one more smile and turned to leave just as he was ready to introduce himself. As she left the company building, he stood there and watched her. He thought about pursuing her, but he needed to get in quickly because the elevator was closing. Before the elevator closed, he entered.

He reached the top floor, still thinking about the woman he had bumped into, and entered the lobby, where he saw the assistant to Freddie Danforth. She was attractive, but so were a lot of others.

Her eyes widened as she hurried to her feet upon seeing him coming.

She stammered, "Mr... Mr. Edward."

He never needed to get in touch with Freddie and Co. because the Edwards had never done business with them. Now, however, he wanted to suggest that Danfort had to agree to.

"Mr. Danfort here?" Maxwell questioned her.

"Yes sir." Regaining her composure, she responded. "I'll inform him of your presence."

Maxwell waited once again.

"Sir, Mr. Edward is here to see you." The assistant spoke into her desk's intercom.

"Mr. Edward?" Danforth sounded taken aback.

Why wouldn't he? Maxwell couldn't hold him responsible.

"Hmm, let him in." "He said,"

"Yes sir." She gave Maxwell a sensual smile. "He'll see you now."

Maxwell marched straight into Freddie Danfort's office, closing the door behind him, ignoring her, and mentally noting that he would get rid of her when he had the company.

"Mr. Edward." Danforth got up. "What a surprise!"

Maxwell approached his desk.

"Is."

When he said, "Please, have a seat,"

Maxwell took a seat.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Danforth inquired.

"I'm here for business." He replied.

Danforth appeared perplexed. "Mr. Edward, I don't see how we can assist you with that. We work in different fields."

"I understand. However, I do have a suggestion for you. Maxwell informed him.

His jaw tightened.

"Let's hear it," he continued. "I am aware that Freddie and Co. have filed for bankruptcy, and you need investors to support you." Though I would like it if you were seeking a buyer, I would still like to invest. Maxwell hesitated. "So, name your price."

"I'm lost." Danforth put his elbow on the table and leaned forward. "You're saying you want to buy my company."

"That's right." Maxwell leaned forward, too.

"What would make you desire to switch to my field of work so quickly? You want to purchase my publishing business, and you possess building enterprises all across the world. May I inquire why?

"Personal reasons," replied Maxwell. "So, numbers?"

Danforth let out a sigh.

"I don't think I'm ready to sell Mr. Edward."

"You need investors to keep your business afloat." Everyone in the business community, including Mr. Danfort, is aware that your company has filed for bankruptcy. I'm fairly certain you don't want to sell because I didn't see anyone waiting in line outside your office."

"It's not my call..."

It is, of course. Your board members would undoubtedly support the plan, and you will be required to reimburse your prior investment." Maxwell hesitated. "Mr. Danfort, I'm willing to buy this company and pay your investors back and any other person you owe, just name your price."

Danforth seems both astonished and delighted. He grinned.

"We have a deal, Mr. Edward." He got to his feet and held out his hand.

Maxwell stood up and reached for Danfort's hand after buttoning his suit jacket. He nodded and grinned at him.

"I'll have a contract prepared by my attorney and sent to you. I want this to be over as soon as possible.

He let out a sigh. "Your reason must be very important."

Maxwell responded, "It is," and turned to leave.

Maxwell instructed his lawyer to draft the contract and deliver it to Mr. Danfort today over the phone as he was leaving. By tomorrow, he hoped to put an end to everything.

Scarlett had found the week to be a haze. Lunchtime made it enjoyable, but other than that, nothing changed. Despite not being told, everyone at the organization was aware that they had a new CEO. However, the information spread like wildfire and wasn't verified until Freddie Danfort's assistant, Violetta, was let go and he stopped showing up for work.

Ivy was in Scarlett's arms as she entered the business building. She went to the elevator and noticed it was closed.

"Hold it please." When it opened, she shouted, hoped whoever was within would comply, and quietly thanked them above. "Thank you." As she entered, she grinned.

Finding the appropriate way to approach the woman who had his daughter had been Maxwell's obsession, and it hadn't been simple after passing Freddie and company. Additionally, he had been thinking about the woman he had initially seen at the workplace. He was taken aback when she entered the elevator because he had been thinking about her.

"No dropping bags?" He was compelled to inquire, "Excuse me?" Scarlett gave him a look.

"Last time we met, you dropped your bag." "He said,"

Scarlett grinned after remembering for a few seconds.

"It was you."

Maxwell had not smiled in a long time, so he was surprised when he couldn't help but smile. He was unable to recall the last time he had been compelled to grin.

"Your daughter is beautiful." Sincerely, he said.

"Thank you." Why Scarlett felt uncomfortable speaking to this stranger in an elevator was a mystery to her. She did recall thinking he was attractive when she saw him a few days prior. However, it had been a long time since she had spoken to a man, much less one who appeared to have just stepped out of a magazine. Santos didn't count because he was in charge of her department.

Scarlett didn't make the sexual remark that Maxwell anticipated her to make when he complimented her, as all other ladies did.

Was she unaware of his identity?

The elevator to the childcare on the second floor opened just as he was ready to introduce himself. He had made the effort to learn about the contents of every floor of the business.

As Scarlett stepped out of the elevator, he simply stared at her, wondering what it was about her that affected him. "Have a good day," she said.

After dropping Ivy off, Scarlett headed to her workplace. Her thoughts kept returning to him. He was someone she had never seen before.

Was he brand-new?

"Morning Alice." On her approach to her office, Scarlett greeted her helper.

"Morning Scarlett." Alice returned the greeting.

"How many?" Scarlett asked as she paused at Alice's door.

"Four."

Scarlett let out a sigh.

Santos wanted to fire her.

The day didn't finish as soon as Scarlett had anticipated. She believed it would be simple to study the four files Santos sent during business hours. However, she was mistaken; the files were larger than anticipated, and on days like this, she felt even more thankful for Andy and Sofi. They both understood her work philosophy and were thrilled to be on Ivy's duty once she told them about her workload.

Late that night, Scarlett arrived on the bottom floor and was told by Jerry that her automobile would not start. She proceeded to the garage to try to start the damned vehicle, but as Jerry had previously stated, it would not start. She tried a couple more times before giving up and pulling out her phone to call for an Uber, but none were available at the time.

Oh no!

She considered who to call, but she was aware that if they could find a taxi at this moment, they would need to come fetch her. Furthermore, it would be absurd for one of them to come and pick her up in a taxi only to go back because she was going to their place. At last, she gave up, grabbed her luggage, and got out of the car. Maxwell was leaving for the day at the same moment she was leaving the parking lot.

Maxwell was exhausted from managing both his present and former businesses all day. He noticed that she was leaving the parking lot before him as he was leaving it. She jumped as he honked as he drove up next to her, and her heart rate increased.

Scarlett froze when she saw Maxwell driving the incredibly costly car after he rolled down the windshield. Despite her lack of automotive knowledge, she could tell this car was extremely costly. Inaudibly swallowing when he appeared again. He was so...

"Need a ride?" Her thoughts were interrupted by Maxwell, and she felt his words in the pit of her stomach.

How could someone be that attractive?

A double-take went through her heart.

Scarlett gave him a serious look at that moment. She hadn't even considered taking the time to look at him when they had met by mistake the first two times, so her unexpected response to him now caught her off guard.

"Hmm..."

Who the hell is hesitant to accompany him in a car?

Maxwell scowled.

What was the matter with her?

"Thank you, but no. I'm going to wait for a taxi.

"I doubt you'll get one at this time."

He was pushing her, but why?

He pondered.

He might simply drive away without turning around. He was going to get into trouble since he was begging for it.

Scarlett knew who he was, sort of, but she was never one to hop in someone else's automobile.

"I don't want to trouble you."

"You're not." Says Maxwell: "I'm offering."

Scarlett grinned.

Wasn't he?

"You don't even know where I'm headed."

After grinning, Maxwell pushed open the passenger door and said, "Then get in and let me know."

Scarlett glanced at the open automobile door.

"I promise to be a gentleman." Scarlett couldn't help but smile back at him as she climbed into his vehicle.

Here she is.

Maxwell looked at Scarlett as he drove with her beside him.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?" Scarlett asked, glancing at him. "Your daughter."

Scarlett laughed.

"Are you implying that I'm a careless mum?"

"No. No, I wasn't.

Oh no! He had a joke in mind.

"How long have you worked for Freddie Danforth?"

"Five years." "I'm guessing you just joined the company," Scarlett replied.

Maxwell gave a nod.

"Something like that."

"How do you like it?" She enquired

"Ask me that after my first month." Scarlett grinned at the implication.

"What makes you think we'll be seeing more of each other?"

"The business is little. I can find you with ease." As she spoke, Maxwell continued to look at her. "Now I know where your daughter got her beauty from."

Scarlett gave him a questioning glance.

"You."

Scarlett chuckled.

"I highly doubt that."

"Why's that?" Scarlett only grinned and turned away when he asked.

"But you are beautiful." "You must have men lining up," he continued.

Scarlett let out a silent sigh.

If that were the case, she wouldn't pursue anyone.