Page 35 of The Me I Left Behind

He paced away from the bed, grabbed the wooden chair he sat on earlier, and placed it in front of her. He sat, leaning forward, and glared into her eyes.

Lovely. Max at eye level. She hoped she could remain conscious. Alert.

Reaching out, he softly, seductively, ran a finger along her jawline.

She jerked her face away.

“Sorry I had to pop you one there, sweetheart, but you were getting out of line.”

“Right. My fault.” It was in her best interest to be compliant, at this point.

“You know it is, darling. My bad girl.”

Don’t start that shit.

“You do need to be punished. Don’t you? I mean, this wasn’t the punishment, you understand. Just the wake-up call.” One corner of his mouth angled up in a half-grin. A heartless half-grin.

She jutted her chin up. “I’m awake.”

“Good. Let’s talk.”

“Fine.”

“Punishment later.”

“Whatever.” Her body gradually felt more aware, her brain sharper. The throbbing ache in her jaw was definitely a sign of being alive. She just wanted to keep it that way.

“So, did you find what were you looking for in my office, sweetheart?”

She glared back.I’m not going there, Max.

This was not the conversation she wanted to have. Not right now. What she wanted was to twist the narrative to something she needed to discuss—because this moment might be her only chance to get the upper hand.

If that were possible.

Besides, she wanted to keep him talking and not using his fists.

“I can’t even believe you have another baby. What the shit?”

He chortled. “Seriously? You want to talk about the baby?” Sitting back in the chair, he shrugged. “Cute little bugger. You should see it.”

It. Lovely.Maggie jerked her gaze away from his snarly, cocky attitude. She couldn’t look at him any longer. “Right. Let’s have a tea party,” she muttered.

Max laughed. “Look, sweetheart. It’s no big deal. Life goes on.”

“Are you insane? Life goes on? What the fuck?”

He leaned forward again, peering into her eyes. “You get it. Right? Nothing needs to change. We can make this work, and the kids will never have to know. Of course, I realize Carol already knows, but she’s practically an adult.”

“What are you saying, Max?”

He smiled and touched her bottom lip. “I’m saying that life goes on just like it always has. You and the kids will stay here in the States. I’ll come home now and again—just traveling and away more than usual. No one will suspect anything. And Lilly and the baby will live in Brisbane.”

“Lilly?”

He blinked. “Yes. That’s… her name.”

Bingo. She thought about the sticky note. “Ah. Your mistress.”