Vampire Queen : Fated Love

Max, on the other hand, was in his element. His movements were precise, his words cutting like a sword. He flipped through the pages of the latest financial reports, his expression unreadable.

"You're staring at those papers like they're written in an foreign language," Max said abruptly, his voice low and commanding.

---

[  ]

— Translate : ( It will cost them 1 million Dollars just to destory that Temple. )

---

Lisa ( Natasha ) blinked, caught off guard. She hesitated, then nodded. "Well, it might as well be," she admitted. "This isn't exactly my area of expertise nor my native language!!"

Max let out a short, dry laugh.

"I figured as much. You're here because you just want profit , but you are lazy. And you are willing to put all the work on my neck? Do you think I'm stupid?. But when it comes to business, I don't have the patience for dead weight."

The words stung, but Lisa ( Natasha ) wasn't surprised. Max's reputation preceded him. He wasn't the kind of man who tolerated idleness or incompetence, especially when it came to matters of money. His philosophy was clear: 'results were everything.

"I'm not trying to be dead weight," Lisa said quietly, her gaze dropping to the table. "I just need time to understand how all of this works."

Max's eyes narrowed. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"Time? In the world of business, time is the most valuable currency. People like me don't waste it on someone who 'needs time.' Either you keep up, or you get out of the way." — " Here I through, My partner was decent. "

Lisa bit the inside of her cheek. She had expected this, of course. Max William wasn't the kind of person to coddle anyone, not even his allies. But hearing his words directly, delivered with such cold precision, was still hard to swallow.

---

"I understand," she said at last, her voice steady. "I'll learn as fast as I can."

"See that you do," Max said, his tone dismissive. He returned his attention to the documents, effectively ending the conversation.

Lisa sat back in her chair, feeling the weight of the silence settle over her once again. Her hands curled into fists in her lap. She hated this feeling—being out of control, being dependent on someone else. But for now, she had no choice but to endure it.

---

Hours passed, and the meeting dragged on. Max continued to speak, his words sharp and efficient as he dissected the company's latest strategies. Lisa (Natasha) listened intently, trying to absorb as much as she could. She scribbled notes in the margins of the papers in front of her, even though she wasn't sure she understood half of what she was writing.

At one point, Max glanced her way, his expression unreadable. "You're surprisingly quiet today," he remarked.

Lisa (Natasha) met his gaze. "I'm just trying to keep up."

Max's lips twitched, almost forming a smirk. "Good. At least you know your place."

The comment stung, but Natasha forced herself to remain calm. She knew better than to let Max see any sign of weakness. He was like a predator, always searching for the slightest vulnerability to exploit.

As the meeting finally came to an end, Max stood and gathered his papers. "That's enough for today," he said. "We'll continue this tomorrow."

Lisa ( Natasha ) nodded, standing as well. "Understood."

Max paused, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "If you want to prove yourself useful, start by learning the basics. I won't tolerate incompetence."

Lisa ( Natasha ) clenched her fists at her sides. "I'll do my best."

"You'd better, I already send it to Robert . For now he will handle that" Max said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing in the hallway.

" Where are you staying? " Max said , his tone was bit more like irritated.

" Well , I book a hotel room near by ! So don't worries" Lisa ( Natasha) Replied.

" oke then . I am leaving! For now " Max replied, and he walk towards his car .

---

❂ Back To William House RTC.

Max William sat alone in his Chair, the quiet hum of the city filtering through the large glass windows behind him. The room, usually a sanctuary of focus and strategy, now felt like a place of unanswered questions. He leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming lightly against the polished wood of his Table ( Home Desk ).

His thoughts were a mess—an unusual state for someone who thrived on precision. The focus of his confusion? Lisa.

For the past year, Lisa had been his reliable partner, someone who, while not an expert in business, had a sharp mind and an uncanny ability to adapt. She wasn't the type to sit idly in meetings, nor was she someone who would let herself be brushed aside. Yet today, she had been...different.

Quiet. Hesitant.

It wasn't like her.

"What's going on with her?" Max muttered to himself, his brow furrowed. He replayed the meeting in his head, dissecting every interaction, every word. Lisa had barely spoken, her usual quick wit and confidence replaced by uncertainty.

His thoughts spiraled deeper.

"Maybe she's sick?" The idea crossed his mind briefly, but it didn't quite fit. Lisa didn't show any signs of illness—no fatigue, no complaints. If anything, she seemed physically fine.

"Or maybe it's a family issue?" he thought, his mind grasping at possibilities. That seemed more plausible. Lisa had never spoken much about her personal life, but Max had always assumed she kept it separate from work.

Still, the shift in her demeanor was too stark to ignore. It wasn't just a bad day or a momentary lapse in focus. It was like she was a completely different person.

"Is it stress?" Max wondered aloud, tapping a pen against his desk. "But she's handled pressure before."

The uncertainty gnawed at him. Max wasn't used to feeling this way. He prided himself on his ability to read people, to anticipate their actions and reactions. Yet with Lisa, he felt like he was staring at a puzzle with missing pieces.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "This doesn't make sense."

---

Josh leaned back on the couch, the faint crackle of the fire he had set filling the room with warmth. It was one of those rare days where he had nothing urgent to attend to, and the idea of enjoying a carefree day took root in his mind.

"This day calls for some fun," he murmured, pulling out his phone. His first call was to his best friend, George.

"Yo, George," Josh said when the call connected.

"What's up, man?" George's familiar, upbeat voice greeted him.

"I'm thinking we need a break. Just the boys. No work, no responsibilities. You in?"

"Always," George replied without hesitation. "What's the plan? Try to sneak on that girl ?"

"I'll figure that out," Josh said with a grin. "But first, let me call in my brothers. The more, the fun."

Hanging up, Josh scrolled through his contacts and dialed his youngest brother, Adi William. Adi was known for his spontaneous nature, always up for an adventure.

"Hey, Josh," Adi answered, his voice slightly muffled as if he were eating.

"Adi, put the snacks down. We're going out," Josh said teasingly.

"Where?" Adi asked, sounding intrigued.

"Does it matter? Just get ready. It's a boys-only day," Josh replied.

"Say no more. I'm in!" Adi said, already sounding excited.

With George and Adi on board, Josh made one final call—to his oldest brother, Eithan William. Eithan was the care free one of the group, often acting as the voice of Trouble and reasonable. Josh figured convincing him might take a little effort.

"Josh," Eithan said when he answered. "What's going on?"

"No work talk today, Big bro," Josh said quickly. "We're going on a trip. Just us guys. You're coming, no excuses. Last night party I didn't enjoy it well , so today"

Eithan hesitated. "A trip? Where to?"

"Doesn't matter," Josh said. "We're just going to have fun. You've been buried in Sister marriage for weeks. We need this break."

Eithan sighed. "Fine. Let's go."

"Deal," Josh said with a laugh.

---

By noon, the group was gathered in front of Willaim house RTC , their energy high and spirits lifted. George was the first to arrive, as usual, with his ever-present grin.

"So, where are we headed?" George asked, slinging an arm around Josh's shoulder.

"I was thinking we keep it simple. Road trip to the mountains, maybe hit a lake, grab some good food," Josh said.

"Sounds perfect," Adi said.

"As long as it's Mom don't Know about it. I am fine ," Eithan added, eyeing Josh.

"No promises," Josh said with a wink.

---

The car ride was filled with laughter and banter, the kind of easy camaraderie that only lifelong friends and brothers shared. George was in charge of the playlist, blasting old-school rock and pop hits that had them all singing along—badly, but enthusiastically.

Adi leaned out of the window, enjoying the wind in his face. "This is exactly what I needed," he said, grinning from ear to ear.

"You act like you're the one buried in work," Eithan said, rolling his eyes.

"Hey, even I need a break from being the life of the party," Adi shot back, earning a laugh from everyone.

---

They reached their destination by mid-afternoon—a picturesque mountain lake surrounded by lush greenery. The water sparkled under the sunlight, and the air was crisp and fresh.

"This is amazing," George said, already snapping pictures.

Josh stretched his arms out, taking in the view. "Told you this was a good idea."

They spent the afternoon hiking, skipping stones across the lake, and reminiscing about old times. George and Adi teamed up to prank Josh by sneaking up behind him and pushing him into the water, earning a string of mock curses and laughter.

Eithan, true to his nature, stayed out of the pranks but couldn't hide his smile as he watched the chaos unfold.

---

As the sun began to set, they gathered around a small campfire they had built near the lake. Adi roasted marshmallows while George regaled them with exaggerated stories from their past.

"Remember when Josh tried to impress that girl Late yesterday ?" George said, laughing so hard he could barely finish the sentence.

"Hey, I almost mess up!" Josh protested, though he was laughing too.

"You were such Pathetic," Eithan said, shaking his head. "And you've been reckless ever since. By the way , Do you really love that girl , while just looking at once??."

"Reckless, maybe, but My love is purrreeee....," Josh said, raising a marshmallow in a mouth.

"Here's to that," George said, clinking his marshmallow stick against Josh's.

---

As the fire crackled and the stars began to dot the sky, the mood shifted to something quieter, more reflective.

"I'm glad we did this," Eithan said, surprising everyone. "I didn't realize how much I needed a break."

"Same," Adi said. "Life gets crazy, but moments like this...they remind you what really matters."

Josh smiled, looking around at the faces of the people he cared about most. "Here's to more days like this," he said.

"Agreed," George said, raising an imaginary glass.

Josh said to his brother and friend , " Tomorrow I will propose Sarah ! Or I will Just it to Uncle Leo "

George said while laughing at josh , " In your dream. "

" If I conquer Uncle heart with my respectfull manner . Uncle will surely be glad at me . Then I can be close with Sarah even more" Josh said while day dreaming about Sarah and his own fantasy....

Eithan, lounging casually in his chair, smirked and said, "People sure do fantasize a lot. Be it good or bad, they just can't seem to stop themselves."