Crashing into an Old Flame
Chapter 161: Diana, is that you?

Chapter 161: Diana, is that you?

The moment Maxim answered the call, Ryle’s cheerless voice resounded in the car.

"Yo bro, come pick me up~"

’’Can’t. I am busy,’’ Maxim frowned.

’’What kind of friend are you? In the whole wide world, you are my only best friend yet you treat me like shit. Is it because of—"

"Where are you?" Maxim interrupted him within a beat.

He had learned his lessons. The people in his life should not be trusted with their mouths around Diana.

’’Airport,’’ Ryle spoke in a cranky voice.

’’What about your car?"

’’Oh, it burnt back in Beijing.’’

The mention of Beijing elicited a response from Diana. Maxim noticed the way her ears perked up. He wondered if she missed her home or the place itself.

’’What happened?" Maxim asked Ryle.

’’No need to worry about me. Even though my car turned into ashes, I brought a little mink home,’’ he said, "So, it’s not a complete loss."

Maxim’s brows twitched slightly, ’’That’s not the only car you have.’’

’’So what? I want to be picked up by you because I miss you so much,’’ at the end of his sentence, he had to audacity to make some disgusting kissing sounds.

Diana stifled her laughter.

Maxim hung up and glanced at his phone disdainfully.

’’The airport is in the opposite direction. I can take a cab. Drop me here,’’ Diana spoke up.

Maxim shook his head, ’’That won’t do. Just accompany me.’’

’’I don’t want to be a third wheel.’’

’’What do you think we will do that will make you a third wheel?" his face darkened.

’’He said he missed you so I can’t be sure,’’ Diana gave him a meaningful look, ’’If that is why you rejected me, I can understand your reasons.’’

"_"

Maxim turned the car around without responding to her.

Before she could protest, he spoke up, ’’We will be back in an hour. You said you wanted me to cook for you.’’

’’But it’s already late...’’

Although she sounded considerate, he could see her eyes lighting up at the mention of food. The corner of his lips tugged up, ’’I can cook anything you want me to. You sure you want to pass the offer?"

As expected, she hesitated, ’’Then, noodles?"

’’Just that?"

’’You are willing to cook more?"

’’Anything you want to eat,’’ Maxim nodded, discreetly luring her into the trap.

’’Airport it is then,’’ Diana blurted in a rush, momentarily forgetting that she was still upset about their earlier confrontation.

Maxim stopped himself from smiling.

Los Angeles International Airport.

Diana looked around the place for the umpteenth time before glancing at Maxim, ’’Are you sure that your friend is not pulling a prank on you?"

’’Not sure.’’

"_" ’’It has been over fifteen minutes since we came. You can’t reach his phone and he is not trying to reach yours. I think it’s some sort of conspiracy,’’ Diana pulled her coat tighter around herself as she observed her surroundings warily.

Maxim noticed her sneaky stance, ’’Do you think this is crime fiction?"

"What do you know? Some fiction is based on real-life events. As for your friend, he pointed his gun at my head when we met at his place. Even though we got along well together later but the first impression lasts long after all,’’ Diana nodded to herself, ’’No matter how much you tame a snake, it won’t be your pet."

’’You insolent woman, who are you calling a snake? Who will be a pet?"

Diana closed her eyes. What bad timing! They were looking around for him but he was nowhere to be seen yet he appeared the moment she was badmouthing him.

’’Whoever is offended?" As she looked at his face, Diana was stunned.

In a matter of few weeks, since she had last seen him, Ryle’s beauty seemed to have taken a plunge. He looked terrible. He had heavy eye bags and one of his eyes seemed to be swollen, it was as if he was punched by someone. He looked bruised and battered thoroughly.

’’As handsome as I am, you don’t have to stare at me like that,’’ Ryle flipped his hair with his index finger, "My friend won’t appreciate it."

Maxim gave him a warning glare.

Diana cleared her throat. Handsome? He resembled an alien. But anyways, whatever helped him sleep better at night.

’’Let’s go,’’ Maxim grabbed her hand.

’’Wait!" Ryle protested as he squeezed in between Maxim and her.

He sneakily pushed her away to stand beside Maxim.

Diana crossed her arms in front of her chest at how ridiculous this man was being.

’’What now?" a vein throbbed on Maxim’s forehead.

’’My little mink is not here yet,’’ Ryle complained, letting his gaze drift somewhere.

Diana leaned towards him and followed his gaze, ’’You have a pet? Are minks allowed on the plane?" she stole a glance at Maxim who shook his head at her, ’’No? Then how did you smuggle it here?" she glanced at Ryle questioningly.

Ryle seemed offended by her question as he narrowed his eyes at her, ’’I am not talking about the literal mink...’’

’’Diana?"

Diana stiffened.

That familiar voice.

No way.

There was no way. She must have hallucinated it.

’’Diana, is that you?" With a clear of the throat, that voice switched from feminine to masculine, making her muddle-headed.

The moment Diana turned around, her feet staggered back.

Maxim grabbed her shoulders to stabilize her, ’’Are you alright?" his gaze drifted to the newcomer with ash-blonde hair, dressed in an all-black suit.

Ryle inched closer to Maxim, ’’I didn’t know he was familiar with your woman,’’ he whispered in his ear.

’’Who is he?" Maxim glanced at Diana who was beginning to struggle in his grasp.

’’My secretary who disappeared from his position two years ago. I finally caught him,’’ Ryle continued whispering, ’’But from the look on Diana’s face, it seems like both of them have some history. You are done for,’’ he added on a conspiratorial note.

While Maxim was contemplating it, his grip on Diana loosened and she pushed him away before running towards the man who was making his way towards them.

Maxim glanced at his empty hands and looked up at Diana’s retreating back. Something strange stirred in his heart when Diana crashed into the man’s arms without hesitation.

Ryle clicked his tongue, ’’1000 reasons you should never put your hoes before bros,’’ he hooked his arm with Maxim’s, ’’Look who is lending you support now. The very same bro whom you neglected. As for the woman whom you kept putting before me rushed into another man’s arms. I can see the green hat on your head.’’

Maxim’s fingers curled into fists as Diana broke the hug and held the man’s arms, looking at him from head to toe as if she was making sure that he was fine.

Maxim shrugged off Ryle’s hand.

’’Oww—That hurt. Are you heartbroken?" Ryle eyed Maxim warily, ’’Although you are way out of Dexter’s league, but he could still compete with you just based on that pretty face of his. The number of women he seduced in Beijing was endless. And he even broke up with the heiress of the Si Family after she cheated on him so I think he must have gone astray after being betrayed by his true love.’’

That caught Maxim’s attention, ’’He is from Beijing?"

’’That guy duped me with wrong information in his resume before but I found him in Beijing so I have my doubts,’’ Ryle said after giving it a thought, ’’After all, people rush to the place they are most familiar with when trouble arises. I have asked someone to investigate him.’’

’’And he is single?" Maxim glanced at Ryle.

’’Pretty much,’’ Ryle glanced at Diana who went back to hugging Dexter after examining him, ’’But I don’t think his singledom will last long.’’

Maxim followed his gaze.

Ryle slung an arm around Maxim’s shoulder, ’’Don’t take me wrong. I am not exaggerating it. Just look at that view. Has your girl ever hugged you so passionately?"

Maxim’s eyes narrowed. Has she?

They were a lot more intimate than a hug but has she ever embraced him so tight as if she was afraid he would disappear?

Maxim noticed how the man raised his hands and started stroking Diana’s back.

And before he realized it, he was already walking towards Diana, his fist loosening gradually.

’’Hey, what are you doing? Don’t be impulsive,’’ Ryle chased after him.

’’Introduce us to each other,’’ Maxim tilted his head to the side, ’’We should be hospitable. To. Guests.’’

Ryle did not have a good feeling about it.

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