Page 10 of Max

"Sky, everyone knows who he is. I'll admit, I didn't know at first, and I will regret for the rest of my life that I pushed you to go out with him, but the moment I found out, I tried everything to get you away from him."

"But I was going to marry him today."

"No, you weren't."

"Yes, I was, and you were supposed to be my maid of honor," I exclaimed and that is when her body sagged as her face gentled.

“Honey, I would never have let that happen. I tried to get you to change your mind, I practically begged you on the way to church to let me take you somewhere, but you just looked out the window, completely out of it and ready to take whatever came just so you wouldn't be alone," I was shaking my head, trying to stop her from spilling all my secrets and announcing how pathetic I was to Max, but she kept going. "By the time I came knocking at your door, saying it was almost time, I had a car at the ready and a file waiting for you to read on the way out."

Melanie looked to Max, a smile spreading on her face. It was the happiest I've seen her in a while.

"It's just that the hot guy beat me to the punch."

I was speechless. I tried to form words to come out of my mouth, but my mind was in shambles.

Nothing made sense anymore. Melanie got tired of waiting for me to say something, and she made that clear by walking to and sitting at the table. The smile still present.

"A file?" Max's question shook me out of my stupor.

"Yes, I hired a PA to get as much dirt on Nico and his mother as possible. He didn't come up with much, but I was desperate and would take anything just to get my girl out of his claws."

"I need to see that file," they carried on as if I wasn't even there, as if those two didn't just shake the foundation of me.

"You knew about my warehouse?"

She watched me closely as I slowly came to the table and sat down. I could see her mind working, trying to make some sense of my question. And then I saw her coming up with nothing.

"What about your warehouse?"

I opened my mouth to explain all the filth that was invading it, even the little I knew was too much but wasn't fast enough.

"Come with me," Max ordered and then walked out of the kitchen, expecting Melanie to do as he demanded.

I turned to her, my eyes rolling and fully prepared to laugh, because no man ever told Melanie what to do, but she was on her feet and following him. They left me sitting there for about five minutes. Melanie was first to come back, her face pale, her eyes round and filled with fear. She came to me, giving me a fierce hug as her mouth moved close to my ear.

"I'm so glad a hot guy came and got you. You're going to be fine. I promise."

"His name is Max," I whispered into her shoulder.

I so needed this. While I was in her arms, I whispered my plan to her so Max wouldn't hear.

When she pulled back, I could see she didn't want to do it.

"Melanie, please," I urged.

Her eyes flicked toward the French doors and then came back to mine.

"Of course, you know I always have your back."

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Chapter Five

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Skylar

“I told you,” Melanie snorted. My eyes flew from the phone with the call on speaker that was sitting on Max’s worn out table to look into Melanie’s eyes filled with tears.