7. Testing My Patience

As soon as the CEO left the bathroom, he gave Gabriella a look of disgust. While opening the wardrobe and taking clothes, the man said, “Stop crying! Your tears won't touch me."

There's no answer. The girl didn't even flinch with her eyes glaring at Max. She knew that whatever came out of her mouth would not be trusted. So, silence was the best answer.

"I'll give you one more chance. Tell me ... who paid you for all this mess? If you are honest, I will tolerate you."

Until the CEO was fully dressed, Gabriella remained locked in the voice. No matter how tired her heart was in facing painful accusations, she had to remain strong.

“Oh, you still choose to be quiet? Okay, then, don't expect to get out of this room.”

After making a threat, Max stepped out and locked the door. His expression was far from compassionate. In his eyes, Gabriella was nothing more than a despicable woman who would do anything for money.

"Aunt Minnie, don't let anyone open my room until I come back," he said to the butler, who had just finished setting the dining table.

The thin woman with a little gray hairs nodded. "Okay, Sir."

“And give my breakfast to the servants. I have to hurry to the office."

The middle-aged woman nodded again. Even though her heart was wondering, she only watched her master's back leaving. The CEO's tone had never been so cold.

Arriving at the office, Sebastian was waiting.

"Is it true that the woman came to your house?"

"I could be crazy because of that girl," Max answered as he sat in the big chair.

"Why?"

"Someone gave me stimulant, so I had to sleep with that girl."

The secretary's eyebrows rose high. "Are you kidding?"

"I also wish it wasn't real, but ... that's how it happened," the CEO sighed while looking exasperated.

"I don't want that either, Bas. We haven't finished taking care of the house issues, now there's a new problem. Ah, I hope that girl isn't pregnant. I didn't even think about giving her birth control pills."

"Well, actually, there's more important problem, Max."

The CEO spontaneously straightened his back. A bad feeling just came over.

"What?"

Without a word, Sebastian stepped forward and put down a brown envelope. It didn't take three seconds for Max to unload its contents.

The photo of Gabriella entering his yard, the photo of Max entering the girl's house, and even the photo of the two of them kissing during the coffee incident now spread across the table. The CEO's eyes widened unexpectedly.

"What are these?"

“The board of directors has also received these photos. They now assume that you conspired with Gabriella to thwart the Quebracha project."

A sigh escaped the CEO's mouth.

"Have they gone mad? Why would I thwart a project that I started?"

“Because of that, this afternoon's meeting has been postponed until it is clear. In exchange, Mr. Herbert asked you to meet him."

Max's brow furrowed into a high arch.

"Why does Dad want to meet me?" he muttered unconsciously. "Is he suspicious of his own son?"

"I don't know, Max. Just fulfill the invitation this afternoon."

The CEO leaned back into the chair. His hand was now raised against his temple. He could really be crazy because of Gabriella's trouble and the razed house.

***

"Good afternoon, Dad," Max greeted with an awkward smile.

Instead of a warm welcome, the father looked away and snorted in annoyance.

“No need for pleasantries, Max. Just go explain what you have done!"

The CEO sighed in disbelief. Even though they were in the VVIP's soundproofed dining room, he still didn't deserve that accusation.

"Someone has set me up. This person must have paid Gabriella to block the Quebracha project."

Herbert frowned at the illogical explanation.

"Is it true? What can an ordinary girl like that do?”

“She insisted that she didn't want to sell her house, even though we have offered four times the price,” Max replied confidently.

The father nodded as he pursed his lower lip.

"Then, did she demolish her own house in order to launch protests and complaints against your company?"

"I'm sure she was assigned by someone from a competing company."

"Is that so? Let's say, someone really hacked your email. Why doesn't he steal important Quebracha data? Sorry, Max. You've lost the trust of the board of directors. You must give up your position as CEO of the Quebracha Company."

Max stared and sighed spontaneously. His eyebrows arched in disbelief.

"Wait a minute. You can't just take me off. This is just a misunderstanding. I can straighten it out."

"No, Max. This is the final decision."

"The board of directors must not be careless. If I'm really framed, you will lose heavily. This company as well as technological advances will regret it all the time."

Max continued to coax with an explanatory hand. He had to be able to convince his father.

Having never received a positive response, the CEO finally said, "At least, give me time to get this problem straight."

"What are you going to do?"

“I will make sure that that girl doesn't prolong the problem. She will receive a compensation that's not detrimental to the company. There will be no protests or demands. The Quebracha project will continue without a hitch."

The room was silent for a moment. Herbert was considering his son's explanation, while Max waited for his father's reaction.

“I'll give you one week, and during that time, you shouldn't come to the company yet. All of your access must be closed."

"What? Wait a minute. Why can't I come to the company? What about the agenda that I have to take care of?" Max's hands were spread wide again to accompany his round eyes.

“Leave your business to Sebastian. You need to get out of the way to anticipate new suspicions. So, if during that time something happens, the board of directors will know that you are not a traitor."

The CEO's brows twitched slightly." Traitor?" he sighed in disgust.

Word that he had never thought of, came out so easily from the lips of his father.

"All right, I will prove that I never betrayed. The Quebracha project is my idea, my priority. There's no way I messed up."

Herbert nodded without a smile.

"One week," he confirmed as he did not seem to mind if his son left the office.

After leaving the meeting place, Max immediately contacted his secretary.

"Bas, is there any news from your investigation?"

"Not yet. I've asked the security team to check the surveillance cameras. No suspicious people on all of the footage. Looks like, it's impossible for us to find the person who used your email.”

The CEO pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes for a moment.

"Then, what about that girl? What information do you get?"

“The house is the legacy of her late parents. Because of that, she really looks after it."

Max's head spontaneously tilted to compensate for the astonishment. "Only that?"

“Gabriella is a piano tutor. She has participated in competitions several times, but has never won first place. Recently, she joined a competition and managed to qualify for the first round. The second round will be held next week."

Suddenly, Max remembered the video he watched last night. Whether it was just a play or not, Gabriella looked eager to win the competition.

"All right, thank you, Bas. Now I know what to do."

Without wasting any time, Max drove back to his house.

"How about it? Was there any problem while I was gone?" the man asked when he was greeted by the butler.

"No, Sir. The girl is so calm in the room."

After nodding his head, the CEO hurried up the stairs and violently opened the door.

The girl who had messed up her project was lying under the her dress, still in the same place as this morning.

"Wake up!"

The image of him leaving office suddenly became clear when he saw that girl.

Two seconds, three seconds, no visible movement. The girl was unmoved in her sleep.

“Tsk, why are you pretending to sleep? You want to get away from me, huh? Get up!"

Max lightly kicked the girl in the leg. However, no sound came out.

"You are testing my patience, huh."

The man approached and pulled the girl's hand to get up immediately. However, a second later, Max's eyes widened in surprise. The hand he touched was as cold as ice, and the girl's face looked as white as cotton.

"Hey, wake up! Do not pretend!" Max said in a slightly choked voice. Doubt had rocked his vocal cords.

"Gabriella?"

His hands began to pat the girl on the cheek. However, there was no response he got.