Stranger in my Ass-Chapter 225

Maxwell’s POV

The private jet flew through the clouds at thirty thousand feet, the morning sun streaming through the windows and glinting off the crystal glasses on the breakfast table.

I cut into my omelet with extra force, acutely aware of Kennedy’s eyes boring into my forehead.

He’d been staring at me for the past ten minutes, barely touching his own food, just... watching. Analyzing. Reading me like one of his damn psychological profiles.

"Say what you want to say," I finally snapped, not looking up from my plate. "Staring at me won’t provide answers."

Kennedy set down his fork carefully. "What is going on with you and my sister?"

I paused, my knife hovering over the omelet. Took a deep breath. Let it out slowly.

"Nothing."

"Maxwell." Kennedy’s voice took on that sharp edge that meant he was done being patient. "Don’t play that twisted game with me. Come clean. Now. While I’m asking nicely."

I set down my utensils and leaned back in my seat, meeting his gaze. "I’m actually serious. Nothing is going on. I messed up, and now I don’t know how to fix it."

"Then why," Kennedy said, his eyes like lasers, "is my little sister parading herself as a man? As your assistant?"

A lopsided grin tugged at my mouth despite myself. "I knew you’d identify her easily."

"Of course I’d identify my own sister," Kennedy shot back. "The only reason I kept quiet about it is because it’s you and not some crazy motherfucker who reduced her to that level."

I looked away, because that was the right thing to do. How could I explain to Kennedy that he was actually wrong? That I was exactly the worst motherfucker he knew?

"It just happened," I said finally. "Olivia came to me for a job, disguised as a man, because of the firm’s policy. We don’t employ female lawyers - you know this. I couldn’t let her become a lawyer while committing identity fraud. She would’ve been discovered eventually, her license would’ve been revoked. So I gave her something safer. A position as my personal assistant."

Kennedy’s jaw tightened. "That’s all messed up. Why didn’t you just turn her down? Why let her continue fooling herself?" He leaned forward, suspicion darkening his features. "Or were you quiet because you were enjoying watching her fool herself?"

Damn. The man was too perceptive for his own good.

I took another deep breath, trying to assemble my thoughts into something that wouldn’t get me punched at thirty thousand feet.

"The reason I allowed Olivia to continue her charade was because she’s in love with my best friend, Alex. That’s why she quit her previous firm - to come work at my company where she’d be close to him. And I couldn’t say no to love. Couldn’t come between two lovers."

Kennedy’s eyes widened. "Olivia did all this because of Alex?"

I nodded, "And that’s why I invited you on this trip to Tokyo."

"Why?"

"So you could talk to Olivia. Convince her to come work for me properly. As herself this time." I met his gaze steadily. "She could be my assistant for a few months, then I promote her to junior associate, just like she’s always wanted."

Kennedy was listening intently now.

"I would’ve loved to take her immediately as a junior associate," I continued, "but I need time to dismantle that archaic law about female lawyers at Wellington and Sons. Once the policy is eradicated and everything is back to normal, I’ll give her the position she deserves."

Kennedy looked around the cabin. "Is she on this plane?"

"No. She’s currently on a flight to Tokyo for a vacation with her boyfriend, Gabriel."

Something flickered across Kennedy’s face. "So she’s dating Gabriel now?"

I nodded, my jaw clenching involuntarily.

Kennedy studied me for a long moment. "And you’re okay with that?"

"Olivia will always have a special place in my heart. But I can’t come between two lovers." I lied.

Of course I’ll come between them. I’ll dismantle whatever they have going on - including getting her pregnant - to keep her.

The words whispered through my mind, dark and possessive.

Kennedy was still watching me, his analytical mind clearly working overtime. "What’s your game, Maxwell?"

"I don’t have a game."

"Bullshit." Kennedy leaned back, crossing his arms. "I know you. I know you don’t let go of things easily. You don’t give up. Ever. So what’s the real play here?"

I smiled, but it felt hollow. "I’ve done everything I could. But like I said, I messed it up. Now I’m trying to make it up to her by offering her a real position at my firm."

Everything except tell her the truth. Everything except be honest about what I want.

Kennedy sighed, running a hand over his face. "I’ll talk to her. But Maxwell?" He fixed me with a serious look. "You need to come clean. Confess to Olivia that you knew her true identity all along. Because if she finds out on her own, she’ll scratch your eyes out."

"Noted."

"I’m serious. She’s going to be furious."

"I said noted."

Kennedy started to stand, clearly ready to end this conversation, but I spoke before he could.

"Kennedy."

He paused, looking back at me.

"I’ll come clean to Olivia," I said slowly, "on one condition. You do the same with Kira."

Kennedy froze. "What?"

"Tell her you know all about her double life. That you know she’s been Kyle this whole time." I met his gaze evenly. "And you seriously need to hurry up before Damien takes her away from you."

The color drained slightly from his face. "How do you..."

"I know everything, Kennedy. Just like you know everything about me and Olivia." I picked up my coffee, taking a deliberate sip. "So we have a deal? We both come clean? Or do we both keep playing our games?"

Kennedy stared at me for a long moment, different emotions warring across his face.

"You’re an asshole," he said finally.

"I’m aware."

"A manipulative, calculating asshole."

"Also aware."

He sat back down, his jaw working. "Fine. Deal. I’ll tell Kira I know. But you have to actually come clean to Olivia. No half-truths, no manipulation. Real honesty."

"Real honesty," I repeated.

But could I do that? Could I actually tell Olivia the truth? All of it?

That I’d known from the beginning? That I’d been obsessed with her for years? That I’d orchestrated half the situations that brought us together? That I was her mysterious stranger? That I’d do anything - anything - to keep her?

The thought terrified me more than I wanted to admit.

"Maxwell?" Kennedy’s voice pulled me back. "Are you actually going to do it?"

I looked out the window at the clouds below, "Yes. I’ll tell her."

"When?"

"In Tokyo. After you’ve talked to her about the job offer." I turned back to look at him. "Then I’ll tell her everything."

Kennedy nodded slowly. "Good. Because she deserves the truth. And so does Kira."

We sat in silence for a moment, two men who’d been playing god with the lives of the women we cared about, finally acknowledging that the games had to end.

"You love her," Kennedy said quietly. It wasn’t a question.

"Yes."

"Does she know that?"

I laughed bitterly. "I don’t think she knows, Ken."

He was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Don’t fuck this up, Maxwell. My sister has been through enough. If you hurt her - if you break her - I don’t care how long we’ve been friends. I will end you."

"I know."

"I mean it. I will destroy everything you’ve built."

"I know, Kennedy. I know." I held his gaze. "But for what it’s worth, I’m not planning to hurt her. I’m planning to spend the rest of my life making up for all the ways I have messed up."

Kennedy studied me for a long moment, then nodded once. "See that you do."

He stood again, this time actually leaving, heading toward the back of the jet where the bedroom was.

I turned back to the window, watching the clouds drift by, my reflection staring back at me.

In a few hours, I’d be in Tokyo. Olivia would be there too, though she didn’t know I knew that. Gabriel had mentioned plans of going off to Tokyo to cool off weeks ago. And when he’d called me last night, stating he was taking a vacation with his girlfriend, I’d known exactly where he was going.

One last manipulation. One last game.

After this, I’d tell her the truth.

All of it.

And pray that she didn’t actually scratch my eyes out.

My phone buzzed with a text from my head of security:

Mencer: Sir, we are so sorry to inform you, but we weren’t able to find Oliver. We’ve searched every possible place we could.

I stared at the message, a smile slowly spreading across my face.

She’d run. My clever, resourceful Olivia had actually drugged my security team and escaped.

God, I loved her.

I typed back:

It’s fine. I know where he is. Stand down.

Then I leaned back in my seat, that smile still playing at my lips.

Tokyo was going to be very interesting indeed.