Chapter 669 Tension

Anne had been to this restaurant before. It was a high-end place known for its exclusivity, where reservations were required at least three days in advance. Given that she hadn’t booked ahead, it was impossible to get a table on a whim. Coincidentally, three days ago had been the night of their class reunion. Anne couldn’t shake the feeling that Max had been planning this all along.

As she sat across from him, she couldn’t help but scrutinize him. The dim lighting during their last interview had been elsewhere. Now, face-to-face, she realized that the boy she once knew had transformed significantly. He looked even more handsome than she remembered, and his height only added to his presence.

Noticing her gaze, Max set down his knife and fork. “Is there something on my face, or is your steak not to your liking?” With a playful grin, he slid a small piece of his steak onto her plate. “Want to swap?”

Anne pulled her attention back to her meal and took a bite of her steak before steering the conversation toward the interview. “So, you were the one who put my name…” Something felt off. She had marked that she was a mother on her resume, and if they thought she wasn’t a fit, they should have dismissed her application outright. Instead, they’d let her in for an interview. It seemed to her that her application had been rejected but then somehow reinstated by Max.

He shrugged. “Yes, I did give you that opportunity.”

“Then why let me interview only to use that reason to dismiss me?” Anne pressed. “Was it to humiliate me? Do you think a mother can’t still chase her dreams?”

Max frowned, his expression serious. “That’s not how I see it at all. You’re misunderstanding my intentions.”

“Then what do you mean?” she asked, leaning in slightly.

He replied, “It’s about facing the reality of this industry. You’re up against a lot of competition. This is just the beginning, and in a field that favors youth, you’re going to encounter more situations like this.”

Anne couldn’t deny that he had a point. The soft notes of a piano filled the upscale restaurant, creating a warm atmosphere. They sat in a cozy booth by the window, where the glass had fogged up from the temperature difference outside. Max’s eyes locked onto hers across the table.

Anne found herself pondering the purpose behind his words. After years apart, they were like strangers, despite their shared history. This restaurant wasn’t cheap, and if Max’s goal was purely to belittle her and showcase his success since graduation, he wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of treating her to dinner. After tonight, they would go their separate ways, likely never to cross paths again.

He lifted his glass of red wine and clinked it gently against hers. Then, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a business card and slid it across the table. The title of CEO at Starlight Entertainment caught her eye. She had heard about the company’s rise in the industry, known for launching several superstars in recent years. So, that was why his family had moved to Havenbrook—to start an entertainment company.

“If I remember correctly, your dream was to dance for a living,” he said, casually resting his hand on the table. It was a simple gesture, but with his striking looks, it somehow exuded a relaxed confidence.

Anne chuckled softly, a hint of self-deprecation in her voice. “I injured my leg a while back. I can still dance for fun, but a lifelong career as a dancer? That ship has sailed.” The demands on a dancer’s body were immense—daily training, countless high-intensity moves—and with her doctor’s grim prognosis, she had no choice but to pivot to modeling.

Max, however, seemed unfazed. He looked at her with an understanding that suggested he had anticipated this conversation. “If it were possible, would you want to return to that world?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Anne nodded. “Absolutely. Dancing is my passion. I only became a model because of my injury.”

His deep voice resonated in the air, wrapping around her like a warm embrace. “Then I’d like to sincerely offer you a position at Starlight Entertainment. Come work with me.”

Anne was taken aback by his sudden offer. All the previous conversations had been leading up to this moment. Max wanted her to join him at Havenbrook. Starlight Entertainment was a major player in the industry, known for nurturing talent, whether they were established stars or aspiring trainees. Transitioning from the spotlight to behind the scenes would still allow her to shine in the dance world.

“Salary, meals, and accommodation covered. It’s a solid deal,” he added, summoning the waiter to settle the bill.

As they stepped outside, Anne was still in a daze. Moving to Havenbrook? It was something she had never considered before. Suddenly, a delivery person rushed out of the restaurant, nearly colliding with Anne. Max instinctively grabbed her wrist, pulling her close to him. Caught off guard, Anne stumbled, her cheek pressed against Max’s chest. The fresh scent of cedar enveloped her, and she felt the warmth radiating from him, sending a shiver down her spine.

For a moment, it looked as if they were locked in an embrace. Anne was slightly dazed by the sudden impact.

“Are you okay?” Max asked, his voice laced with concern as his hand brushed her hair. “Scared?”

Finally registering what had just happened, Anne felt her cheeks flush. Just as she was about to step back, Dante appeared out of nowhere, his voice tinged with anger. “What are you two doing?”

They both turned to see Dante striding toward them, his eyes gloomy. He seized Anne’s wrist and yanked her back, glaring at Max. “What’s going on again?”

Dante must have been out dining with business partners as two plump middle-aged men trailed behind him, clearly executives from some company. The tension in the air was palpable, and the two men exchanged uneasy glances, choosing silence.

Max remained unfazed, his voice calm and low. “Is it really that hard to understand? We’re just having dinner.”

Dante scoffed and said, “Old classmates catching up after years? Just the two of you?”

Max’s smirk was laced with a hint of challenge. “We weren’t that close back then. Who’s to say what the future holds?”

The air crackled with tension—Dante’s instincts screamed that Max had ulterior motives. If he wasn’t interested in Anne, then he’d eat his words.

Dante leaned in, his tone deliberately provocative. “Anne, your daughter is starting to recognize people now. This morning, she was looking around the house for you.”

His mention of Bella was clearly a calculated move. Everyone could sense the implications. A divorced woman with a child didn’t exactly attract a line of high-quality single men willing to step up.

Dante expected Max to falter at the mention of Bella, but instead, Max merely met his gaze with a cool indifference. As he brushed past Dante, he leaned in just enough for Dante to hear. “This time, I won’t let her go.”