*Three*

"I'm so sorry for what Simon said to you," Paulina said as they took a walk around the grounds of the building hand-in-hand. Alastair ran ahead across the grass.

"Thank you, but you shouldn't be apologizing."

"Maybe not. But still, I am sorry." She paused their walk for a moment. "You forgot, didn't you? That it was your weekend with Alastair?"

Max opened his mouth, looking as though he was about to protest, but then closed it again, defeated. "I've been very busy and it may have slipped my mind that today was the end of the week and start of my weekend with him-"

But she wasn't looking at him with any judgement. No judgement at all. Just one of her sweet smiles. "I know. Well he was very excited to see you. So excited, he's so sweet."

"He is." Max smiled as he watched his son run around the grounds of the office building he hoped Alastair would inherit from him someday. Then his expression turned sour. "So what was Camilla's excuse this time?"

"Hey, don't be jealous."

"Well I am! Clearly she doesn't realize that we have a relationship going as well. She's not the only one moving on after the divorce," he huffed.

Camilla had moved on rather quickly following their divorce four years previous. Paulina and Max had only been together for a year, but things had moved quickly in that year, but quickly in a good way. They lived together, had 'family' time with Alastair, and were going strong.

"She's off touring the coast with her boyfriend without a care in the world and here I am being insulted in my own company office in front of my girlfriend and my son."

"Max. Don't listen to what those people have to say. They don't know the real you."

"No, no they don't. But they will. And soon. Very soon. And they'll be sorry - they'll all be sorry."

Paulina had been expecting a night out on the town with Max for their date night. However, he called her from work saying he had gotten them tickets to the Members Gala at the Smithsonian. She was surprised to say the least.

"So why are we going to a Members Gala at the Smithsonian?" she called as they got ready for the event that evening. It seemed completely random.

"Why not?"

"I mean, I guess it's something different."

Max emerged, dressed in a black suit with a golden-yellow bowtie. Always black gold. He eyed her choice of royal blue dress. "Blue, that's my signature colour."

"Maybe that's why I chose it." She grinned and spun around.

"Beautiful, as always. And it will look perfect with this - Alastair mentioned you had your eye on this-" He withdrew a small box from behind his back and opened it, revealing-

The necklace. The one she had been eying those few days ago at the mall.

Her mouth fell open in shock. "You didn't!"

"I did!"

"But Max, it's too much-"

"Never too much for you!"

"Oh Max..." It really was so beautiful. "Thank you, so much. But really, you don't have to do these things-"

"I know I don't have to, but I want to."

"I know..."

"Here, put it on-" He helped her clasp the new piece of jewelry around her neck and kissed the chain against her neck. "Lovely! Now come on-" He tugged her hands, pulling her towards the door, bouncing with each step. "I want to party!" His excitement made her laugh.

The party was big and flashy and something she would never usually attend, but it was good to branch out once in a while. John dropped them off at the museum's entrance and they strode through the doors, she on Max's arm.

"Dr. Minerva." Max called hello to a woman in a black dress.

"Oh, hello." She flashed them a wide smile. "Awesome party, huh?"

"Excellent. Allow me to introduce the one and only Paulina Quintana, my lovely girlfriend."

"Oh, lucky you! He told us about you."

"Oh, he did? That's sweet."

"Well of course. I never shut up about you," Max boasted.

"You never shut up period," she joked back, making Dr. Minerva laugh.

"You're the girlfriend who works at Sears."

"Yes, yes that's me. I'm in the makeup department. I know it doesn't sound all that exciting next to Mr. TV Man here." She nudged Max.

"No, no, that's cool."

"Thanks. I really enjoy it."

"And that's the most important thing. I love my job! Dr. Barbara Minerva. Natural History Department." The two women shook hands. "I love your necklace," she commented.

"Oh, thank you." Paulina's hand came up to rest upon the expensive bejeweled chain. "It's new."

"It's lovely." Dr. Minerva then turned back to Max. "Thank you again so much for your generous donation, Mr. Lord."

Max cleared his throat when he felt Paulina's gaze jump to him. "O-of course. It was my pleasure."

"Your man sure is generous," Dr. Minerva commented to Paulina. "He took a tour of the whole museum and decided to give his whole donation to our department! He's announcing it later tonight."

"He certainly is generous, isn't he," she agreed, though tightened her already firm grip on his hand.

"I'd better go - lots of people to talk to. Nice to meet you. Enjoy the party!"

"You too."

And with that Dr. Minerva disappeared into the crowd.

"You go ahead and mingle and look around, there's something I need to do," Max said.

"Oh, okay. Is it something to do with the donation which you failed to mention?" she prodded.

"Yes, but no time to discuss it now. I'll be right back." With that, he disappeared into the dense crowd as well.

She wasn't sure exactly how long he was gone for, but it was certainly not quick, and he was definitely not 'right back'. So she stood there in the middle of a busy party not knowing anyone, feeling completely oblivious to what was going on tonight, and alone.

A woman in a beautiful long, white dress brushed past her, clearly on the lookout for someone, and they exchanged a friendly smile as she passed by.

Paulina shuffled through the crowd, not wanting to stray too far for Max had to find her in this massive crowd after all. Some men came up to her and tried to engage her in conversation, but she told them off. "Thanks but I'm here with my boyfriend. I'm just waiting for him." Some were easier to convince of this than others, some thinking she was just using it as an excuse. And it was, but a true excuse.

Max suddenly appeared behind her, something tucked beneath his arm.

"Had enough? Let's go." He urged her towards the door. "I already called John, he's on his way."

"Oh - but what about your announcement?" They were leaving already? It wasn't necessarily her kind of scene but it felt like they had just arrived.

"I told them I'd rather remain an anonymous donor."

"Oh-" Strange for him, keeping out of the spotlight. "What's that?" she nodded to the small wrapped item tucked beneath his arm.

"A 'thank you' for my donation."

Soon they found themselves back in the car away from the party and on their way home.

"So how generous was your 'generous' donation to the department?"

"Clearly generous enough to them."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was a surprise."

"Yes, it was! Max, you don't have that kind of money right now and you know it-"

"But I will, soon, very soon. You head on home, I have to stop by the office to finish something."

She sighed. "Of course you do."

"What's that mean?"

"Nothing." She brushed it away. "See you at home then."

"Paulina-"

"It's just you insist on going to this party and suddenly you're generously donating and then you disappear and I just felt sort of abandoned and confused. And now you have to go back to work."

He cupped her face in his hands. "I know, and I'm sorry. But everything will make sense very soon, I promise. I love you."

"Te amo. Buenas noches."

"Goodnight." He stepped out of the car and headed into the grand office building.

She sighed and rested her head back against the headrest.

"Alright there, Ms. Quintana?" John asked her.

"Yes, thank you, John. Just tired."

Max had always been full of surprises - but she got the feeling he was hiding something major from her, especially recently, and she didn't like it.

Translation:

Te amo. Buenas noches - I love you. Goodnight.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :)