Suppose (Pia's POV)
I studied the lines of his face. From the indifference of his straight brows to the muddiness of his eyes. Then, as it always did, a small ever so annoying smile appeared on his lips. I felt my heart beat pound quicker in my ears. He was toying with me like he always did.
"Max it's your move." I quipped as the last of my patience drained away.
Rubbing at his chin for a few moments longer he finally reached to push a single pawn forward. Frowning I bit down on my lip. The move wasn't clever, which made me believe it must have been a trick. My next move was obvious, and though I had a feeling I would regret it I did the simple thing and took it. And yet again Mister Max, Solutioneer, had made a simpleton out of me.
"Checkmate..." He said gently as if in some vain attempt to lessen that very fact.
Crossing my arms I let out a frustrated huff. "Max!"
"You did your best." He offered as some sort of consolation prize.
My eyes sharpened onto him. "My best is never equal to yours."
His grin faded as those famous eyes of his took on a distant look. "No." He said calmly, yet firm enough for me to know he insisted on whatever was coming next. "Your best is merely different."
I took in one quick breath before I shot back: "Is that a compliment?" My tone was a little snide maybe, but I'd been tricked before by Max's dry sense of humor.
He didn't say anything at first then he turned to fix his eyes on mine. Now my heart was racing for very different reasons. For the intensity I saw burning somewhere behind his stare. As if whatever sort of well-hidden heart was inside of him, was glazing out at me. Then turning his head away his face changed into a look that seemed to say he was even surprised by it.
"Well yes...I suppose it is."
"You suppose?" I asked as my cheeks flared.
I wanted to be mad at him. I always did. And I think he deserved it. But I never could be. And that was something I didn't think I deserved. Leaning back in my chair I let myself slump, regardless of how unladylike mother would have reminded me it was. Resting my face in my hand I stared at him with a frown that I tried to hold onto. Hold onto even though his ridiculous compliment had made me want to smile. Beam even. Because somehow I cared for this Mister Max. And someday I knew I'd tell him so. Even though I knew that would likely be considered unladylike too. Leaning his head to the side slightly he raised an eyebrow as if to ask why I was staring at him so funny. That only made my face go red as I turned to look away. Everything and everyone was an open case to him and I knew he could read right through me.
That was the most frustrating thing of all. I didn't like to think I wasn't a very good actress, but I knew it was true. Then I heard his chair push out against the floor and watched as he stepped beside me. His face looked a little torn, as if he were silently struggling to decide his next words. Or at least I hoped he was struggling, because I sure was! Then finally opening his mouth he reminded us of our current client and rambled off a few details of the case that we both already knew. And finally the oh so charmed line of: "We need to get back to work."
I should have been angry again, and just maybe I should have questioned my desire to be his assistant in the first place. But I wasn't and I didn't. Instead, I knew all too well that I would have followed him across the world both in and out of danger. And even though my best was simpler, I knew I'd always give it to him. Standing I followed him out. And perhaps that was the cleverest of the Solutioneer's tricks. Making me fall in love with him. With that heart of stone and snide smile of his.
Then stopping suddenly he turned to look at me from over his shoulder. "Are you angry at me?" He said seeming somewhat indifferent to whatever the answer would be.
Crossing my arms I frowned before I rolled my eyes. "No, Max! For some reason!"
A shadow of a smile glittered on his face as he started walking again. Then in a slight witty tone, he whispered
"I suppose I'm glad..."