Crashing into an Old Flame
Chapter 43: Friendly concerns

Chapter 43: Friendly concerns

’’You are fine,’’ Maxim whispered against her neck.

But his words were not where Diana was focusing. She could not focus at all. Her attention was elsewhere.

Maybe he had not shaved because she felt his slight stubble grazing the soft skin on her neck.

Diana blinked. What was she thinking about?

’’I am...’’ she confirmed his words, her voice coming out suspiciously breathy.

Diana had the urge to strangle her throat to get her normal voice back because she was certain that she sounded like a pornstar a moment ago.

It was not necessarily a bad thing but in the current circumstances, in Maxim’s arms, embarrassment was creeping up on her.

Thankfully, the man did not seem to have noticed that.

’’Why the heck would you not answer the call?" Maxim pulled back from her as he grabbed her shoulders, his eyes dangerously dark, ’’I was so worried.’’

Diana’s face softened. She almost explained the situation but the sound of approaching footsteps diverted their attention.

Ryle walked downstairs, ’’Because I was holding her at gunpoint,’’ he said casually, his voice playful.

The man who really held her at gunpoint was dangerous at that moment but except for that particular moment, Diana realized that Ryle was playful and easygoing after their long conversation.

And while talking to him, she discovered that he was the owner of Harper Security, top security and cyber development firm, hence ruling out the possibility of him being a runaway criminal because of his gun.

Harper Security employed bodyguards for the rich and influential people, even training them in a system. That was the surface knowledge she had about the company but regardless, she knew about it because her mother’s previous bodyguard belonged to this company.

Maxim narrowed his eyes when he saw Ryle.

Diana stepped back from Maxim, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she looked at him sternly.

’’I think you are the one who needs to do the answering,’’ Both Ryle and Diana spoke up at the same time.

Maxim’s brows nearly touched his hairline as he dodged Diana’s probing gaze.

Inside the study room.

’’Is she thaaaat Diana?" Ryle spoke exaggeratedly as he leaned back on the table.

Maxim raised a brow at him, ’’You are back. Ready to take care of your house and pet now?"

"Yo bro, stop switching the topic,’’ Ryle sighed, ’’Is she your childhood sweetheart? The one Auntie used to mention once in a while and the topic you never liked discussing?"

’’What has it got to do with you, anyway?" Maxim narrowed his eyes, ’’Did you scare her?" he glanced at him suspiciously.

’’No...’’ Ryle forced a smile on his face, ’’I might or might not have pointed my gun at her...cough.. just as I confessed downstairs."

Maxim’s eyes darkened.

As the man stepped towards him, Ryle quickly explained himself, ’’I thought she was a thief. And she even broke a vase at me, she kicked me at places I can’t even tell you... she stuffed socks in my mouth...’’ he said pitifully, ’’And she was calmer than I expected when she saw the gun.’’

Maxim massaged his forehead. He could not even blame Ryle or Diana for any of this.

All he could do was feel grateful that both of them clearly did not kill each other.

’’Are you going to tell me why you did what you did? Why did you lie to her that you own this house?" Ryle whispered conspiratorially.

Maxim glanced at the man coldly, ’’Are you back for good?"

’’No, I am leaving tomorrow,’’ Ryle’s face darkened at the mention of that.

’’What happened?" Maxim frowned.

’’I have work stuff. This elite family had hired bodyguards for their whole family from my company. The bodyguard who was supposed to protect their daughter ran with her instead...’’

Maxim’s lips twitched.

’’Don’t look at me like that. They fell in love or some shit like that. I need to deal with that guard,’’ Ryle tapped on the desk, ’’I have their hiding location with me so I will have to see if I can finish my work today. If my secretary was a tad bit more efficient, I could have gone there today. Dealing with these people is frustrating the hell out of me.’’

The kind of ’dealing’ that Ryle was speaking of made Maxim gaze at the gun in his waistband.

Somehow, their friendship could be considered weird. While he saved people, Ryle killed them.

It was strange for polar opposites like them to stick together.

But Maxim remembered knowing Ryle since both of them were at the starting points of their careers.

Maxim had a VIP patient back then and the high-profile surgery was successful, hence making him a public figure somehow after the consecutive interviews. It was a boost to him that brought unnecessary attention to it.

The hospital exaggerated the whole matter and got him some bodyguards.

The crappy bodyguards followed him everywhere. Left with no choice, Maxim offered Ryle an adequate amount of funding to take his guards back.

But the man turned the money down.

It led to arguments, threats, cold exchanges, chess matches, dinner with mom, and here they were.

Maxim still as annoyed with Ryle and Ryle... just as shameless.

’’Are you feeding my parrot well, huh?" Ryle leaned closer to Maxim, ’’Or having a woman now makes your vision blur?"

’’You want to die?" Maxim’s lips thinned.

Ryle raised a brow, ’’Just the mention of her is unruffling you now?"

"She is just a friend,’’ Maxim said calmly.

’’And I swear on my angelic wings that I trust you,’’ Ryle shrugged, ’’You should have seen her face when she discovered your lies.’’

That made Maxim’s expression shift, ’’Was she angry?’’ the question slipped from his mouth almost immediately.

’’Friendly concerns, hmm?"