Rosie bites the tip of her tongue. She is having a massive internal debate: swallow her pride and be shrewd enough to seize the opportunity, or let him walk away with his arrogance and self-importance. But the debts are literally suffocating her. Letting out a long sigh, she rushed to catch up with him. Seeing him walking toward the elevator, she approaches quickly.
"Mr. Livingston!" she calls out with a sly smile. "You cannot fire me! Generally, my boss would be the one to do that, but you cannot do it."
"I am the one paying, so I will not tolerate your presence. Keep your distance," he said, pressing the button, and as the elevator doors open, he steps inside. He turns around to look at her with disdain.
"You cannot fire me because I am the best option you have, Mr. Livingston. If they assign you another matchmaker, she will surely end up between your sheets."
Seeing that the elevator doors were about to close, she intervenes by putting her hand out to stop them.
"How certain are you that you won't end up in my bed?" His question makes her blush, literally all the way to her ears. "There isn't a woman who can resist, but don't worry, you are not on my wish list. Now step aside, I have important things to do instead of talking to a woman like you."
"You have absolutely no impact on me, Mr. Livingston! On the other hand, my colleagues would go crazy. I take my job seriously. I promise to give you the wife you need. Let's start from scratch."
She looks at him, and in a way, that is exactly what Maximus needs right now: for the matchmaker to be serious and not get involved with him. He needs that wife urgently so he won't lose his billionaire standing.
"I will take your silence and piercing glare as a yes." She steps back and the elevator doors close slowly. Maximus takes the opportunity to sweep his intense gaze over Rosie, wondering over and over again: Why doesn't she go crazy over him?
"She probably likes women!" he said. "That way of dressing is pathetic, it's horrendous. It's unbelievable that I am doing this shit. At this hour, I would have the most beautiful model waiting for me in a suite, ready to please me. Damn it! Damn the hour my grandmother grew obsessed with the idea that I have to get married to receive the inheritance." He snaps furiously, for his blood boils every time he thinks about it.
On the other hand, poor Rosie let out her trapped breath, and that sly smile showing confidence vanished. Standing in front of Maximus feels like she is literally running out of air, as if her world were shrinking. She doesn't understand why, after so many years, she still likes that man.
"I definitely need a boyfriend," she said, heading to her office. "I must do my job and get that promotion. I need this position. How bad can it be to be Maximus Livingston's matchmaker? I know his physical tastes, and I have a long list for that. It will be a piece of cake, it will be over in the blink of an eye: I earn my big commission and that's it, the torture ends. I'll never see him again in my life."
That was what Rosie thought to encourage herself. The truth was she hadn't slept all night; the poor girl kept having nightmares about her horrible memory at prom. That left a panic in her that she hasn't been able to overcome.
When her alarm went off, she set out to bring good vibes to the day.
"I will go to his company, show him my list, and he will surely choose the most well-endowed one. And this will be over. You can do this, Rosie. You must be as hard as a rock."
She gets ready as best as she can, although... she opted for a dress that, according to her, looks very nice, when in reality it was a complete failure the moment Maximus Livingston sees her walk into his office.
"I believe I told you that you were fired!"
"Yet you let me in anyway. If you hadn't told your secretary to turn me away... Let's do this quickly, without so many problems, Mr. Livingston."
She places a list down with photographs and descriptions of each girl.
"These women are right up your alley!"
"Where the hell did you buy that dress?" Maximus couldn't help himself. It has clearly been a while since he last designed, as his inspiration vanished from one moment to the next. He only demands unique and striking pieces from the designers. His role is to be an impeccable CEO and to ensure the modeling sessions are always the absolute best, which is why he is so, so demanding.
"I am showing you your future wife and you are focusing on my dress?"
"It's hideous. You should be ashamed to dress like that. If you are going to be my matchmaker, you must dress well. It is unacceptable for a CEO like me to be seen with a woman who dresses like that."
"You are very rude! I might dress poorly as you say, but I feel comfortable and that is more than enough. Not everyone in this life has the same opportunities as those who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth." She crosses her arms with a furrowed brow.
"Do you honestly think that being what I am means just sitting here and giving orders? Nonsense! Whatever your name is..."
"Harper! I am Rosie Harper!" she snapped angrily. "I am genuinely trying to do my job, but you complicate everything, Mr. Livingston. Good luck finding a wife!"
As she turned around, her dress got caught on the edge of the chair, and since her anger caused her to yank it, the fabric tore as she forced herself free to leave. Her embarrassment makes her wish the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
"Is that your way of seducing me? Wasn't it that you don't fall at my feet?" Maximus manages to admire some of Rosie's bare skin, and even though her dress is horrible and of terrible quality, the panties she is wearing catch his attention.
"Can't you see it's an accident! Be a gentleman instead of staring at what isn't yours to look at, Mr. Livingston!" She tries to cover herself, trying to pull the torn fabric together.
"Staring at you? Believe me, I am not interested. I will tell my secretary to bring something for you, and I hope that with that you leave and I don't have to see you again. Believe me, you are the most exasperating woman I have ever met." He prepares to call his secretary.
"Maximus, my boy!" greets the matriarch, who took him completely by surprise with her visit.
Upon seeing her, Rosie knows perfectly well who she is. In her younger years, the matriarch was a famous model.
"Grandmother, what are you doing here? I'm occupied."
"Boss, at your service," the secretary arrives.
"Bring a dress for her, size M," he orders, and Rosie blushes. How did he guess her size? She feels like she can't breathe.
Mrs. Livingston locks her gaze onto Rosie.
"Oh... don't tell me, Maximus, that finally..." The grandmother smiles broadly. "You have chosen very well, my boy. She is the one. She is nothing like those women you have gone out with. She is lovely, look at those eyes, her skin is perfect."
Rosie looks at Maximus, trying to understand what is happening.
"She will make an excellent wife."
"Wife?!" Rosie exclaimed, and then she choked on her saliva, starting to cough.
"Grandmother, there is a mis..." he tried to explain, but Mrs. Livingston cut him off.
"No mistake at all! This is the perfect candidate to be your wife, the future Mrs. Livingston."
Rosie's eyes widen, and she feels the ground shaking beneath her feet.
