Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 698: So, Chris must've shelled out something big - that probably explained why he'd been so cagey. But he had neither deep pockets nor any real sway. So what on earth could he have traded? Right then, Maia reached the front door. She slid the key into the lock, turned it, and stepped inside. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind. She spun around abruptly, eyes locked on Chris, who had just come in behind her. She gave him a slow once-over, scanning him carefully. Her eyes finally rested on his strikingly attractive face. Ah...

maybe there was something valuable that he had to offer. Chris caught her intense gaze and gave her a slight grin. "So, did you put two and two together?" Maia saw the small smile on his lips. Her eyes lit up with curiosity. She asked, testing the waters, "Does Maxwell have a girlfriend?" "What?" Chris blinked, caught off guard. That question had come out of left field. It didn't seem to match what she was trying to guess.

Still, after a brief pause, he answered honestly, "Far as I know, he doesn't." Naturally, Chris was well aware that Maxwell didn't have a girlfriend, but he couldn't just blurt that out - it would make them seem too close for comfort. Still, what had prompted Maia to ask something so out of the blue? He mulled it over while filling a glass with water. "Then could it be..." Maia's eyes widened as the thought hit her. "Could it be that he has a thing for you?" Chris had barely taken a sip when he choked and sprayed the water out.

"What did you say?" "I mean, isn't that possible?" she said, feigning innocence. "I can't think of anything Maxwell might want from you. But let's be real - your face could give runway models a run for their money." Ⱡ₳Ŧ€$ŧ Çн₳þŧëяş 1π ĠalиoνεļŞ.₵Ø₥ Absolutely not! Chris was ready to shut it down on the spot. But when he caught the mischievous glint in Maia's eyes, it dawned on him - she wasn't serious. She was tossing out a wild guess on purpose, hoping that he would slip up and spill the actual reason. Realizing her little trick, Chris felt a sudden urge to play along.

A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. He put on an exaggerated look of alarm, eyes wide, brows furrowed. "What?! Since when did I miss the memo that Mr. Payne swings that way?" he exclaimed. Maia, clearly amused by Chris's rare moment of panic, grinned and quipped, "Well, you never really know these days... It's a modern world, after all. He's always been single, always inviting you out for drinks and fancy dinners. Didn't that strike you as the least bit suspicious? And besides..." She trailed off, eyes narrowing playfully, lips curling into a sly grin.

"Let's be honest - your face is your strongest asset!" Chris arched a brow. That sounded suspiciously like she was admitting he was attractive. . . .