Bellamy POV
Max’s hand was still lightly holding mine. The moment shattered. My heart skipped—then slammed into a sprint.
Max didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch. “We’re having a conversation,” he said coolly.
Tristan stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him with a clunk that echoed through the glass. “This is a workplace, Max. Not your personal playground.”
Max slowly raised an eyebrow, casual as ever. “Since when do you care about my conversations?”
“When it’s with an employee,” Tristan snapped, glaring at him. “Feelings and business don’t mix. You know that.”
Max shrugged, voice as smooth as silk. “I’m the boss here. I make the rules.”
I took a small step back, trying to breathe. The air in the room was thick—tense like a rubber band about to snap.
Tristan’s jaw clenched. “This is exactly why people don’t trust you. You do whatever you want and expect no consequences.”
“Jealousy’s not a good look on you, brother,” Max replied calmly, brushing invisible lint from his sleeve.
“You’re unbelievable.” Tristan’s fists curled at his sides. “You don’t even care about her—you just like having power over people.”
I opened my mouth, my voice caught in my throat. “Tristan, that’s not fair—”
Tristan cut me off with a look. “He’ll hurt you, Bellamy. He always does.”
“Alright, we’re done here,” Max said tightly, his expression finally cracking.
“No, you’re done,” Tristan shot back. “I’m not watching you screw over another person like this.”
He turned and stormed out, the door slamming so hard behind him the glass shook.
The silence left behind was deafening.
Max let out a breath and turned toward me. “Sorry about that.”
I didn’t say anything right away.
I wanted to ask him. I wanted to finally bring it up. That night. That moment. I wanted to say—Why didn’t you recognize me at the interview? Why didn’t you say anything about that night?
But I couldn’t.
The words were there, stuck right at the edge of my lips. I opened my mouth and said, “I, why don’t you-,”
But then his phone rang. Max held his finger up. “Tell me later, alright?”
I nodded once, slowly. “Yeah… I just… I should go.”
And without waiting for him to say anything else, I turned and walked out.