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"I am risking a lawsuit here, but work for me."

Maxen's brows creased as he repeated what he just heard in his head. For a moment, he doubted his ears, but staring at Conrad's solemn front, he figured he couldn't mistake Conrad's offer for other things. It was very clear.

"Sir... what — what do you mean by that?" he stuttered.

"I cannot employ you legally, so you will work under the table," Conrad explained, still tapping his index on the armrest mildly. "I want to hire you as Cosette's tutor."

Maxen's brows twitched. "Didn't you say you ran a background check on me?" he blurted out, biting his tongue while studying Conrad's expression to see if he was offended. The latter's countenance didn't change even the slightest.

"I barely passed my classes and between Cosette and me, she is more qualified to tutor me," he added as his voice lowered.

"I know that. However, keep in mind the days you were absent from school can only sum up over two months combined for the entire school year and yet, you never had to repeat a year. Others were cramming just to pass the year, but you barely made an effort... but of course, these are all calculated arguments." Conrad shrugged nonchalantly, as he had thought about Maxen's argument beforehand and knew how to counter them all. But he didn't want to manipulate Maxen and make him agree.

"Mister Cloven, I'm not hiring you as a tutor for academic purposes." This time, Conrad leaned forward until his elbows were on his thighs, eyes at Maxen. "I want you to teach her about life."

"Pardon?"

"As I've said before, Cozie was a brilliant young lady. In terms of academics, she can ace everything without a problem. However, with the lifestyle she chose to live now, she's like a newborn. Everything to her is new. That school you are both attending, the bus rides, and almost everything," Conrad explained solemnly. "I need someone who had lived the same lifestyle to show her the path without unknowingly stepping onto a dangerous route."

Maxen remained quiet for a moment while exchanging gazes with Conrad. "Is that another calculated excuse, sir?"

"Yes." Conrad nodded, knowing this was too shallow for a reason to hire Maxen. "All reasonings I will tell you are excuses to hide my real agenda, Mister Cloven."

Conrad slowly straightened his back. "If you agreed, you will gain tons of benefits. I will give you a safer shelter, money to sustain your schooling, and a comfortable life without working multiple part-time jobs, and give you opportunities. I would've asked to adopt you, but I believe you do not want my daughter to be your sister, do you?"

Maxen bit his inner lip as he secretly balled his hands into a fist. "No," he whispered, lowering his eyes.

Just the idea of being Cosette's adoptive brother turned Maxen's stomach. He already liked her and Maxen had already accepted she was just a beautiful dream. Being her brother would seal this already impossible dream.

"That's why I am hiring you as her tutor... or maybe a babysitter is the correct term for it." Conrad rocked his head while studying Maxen's demure. "The job is simple. Just make sure she's safe and she will pass her class since she confessed she was skipping classes."

"She's skipping classes because of me," Maxen blurted out under his breath before he raised his head. "I was a delinquent; she won't be safe with me. I don't think I am up for the job, Sir."

"No. You are more than qualified." Maxen's brows furrowed when Conrad smiled subtly. "The other day, Cosette told me she would become a delinquent... although not now, but she said she might be."

"And that's fine with you?"

Conrad laughed briefly in amusement. "Cosette had learned self-defense at a young age. In a brawl, you will not win against her, Mister Cloven, and this is not coming from the confidence of a father. I just know her." His eyes fell soft as a quiet sigh slipped past his lips.

"I already expected that you will still refuse, regardless of the dividends. But please think this through. I'm not in a rush to get an answer and neither I'm the type who takes no as an answer," he added. "You heard my offer and I will wait until you make up your mind, Mister Cloven."

Maxen quietly sighed, keeping his silence for an entire minute. Since their discussion seemed to have ended, he breathed out sharply.

"I will think about it, sir," he answered while Conrad nodded in satisfaction.

"Then will you stay for dinner?"

Maxen shook his head mildly. "No, Sir. I only want to walk her home, but thank you for the offer."

"Alright. I won't force you." Conrad rocked his head once again as he lifted his hand towards the door. "But I will insist on letting my driver drive you home."

Maxen's mouth opened and closed, ready to refuse him. However, he figured Conrad would take no as an answer. Well, Maxen walked his daughter home to make sure she was safe even with Luke's company, so it was only proper for Conrad to make sure he would also return home safely.

"Alright." He agreed in the end, pushing himself out of the couch. Maxen marched towards the door slowly but halted when he was by the door.

He looked back. "About the convenience store..."

"I bought it. That construction is already on my to-buy list too," Conrad answered with a straight face.

Maxen wasn't even surprised anymore since he guessed that much. He simply needed confirmation. So Maxen resumed leaving the study room, hand on the doorknob before he paused once again.

"Why do you want to help me, sir?" he asked because, for him, that was what Conrad was doing. The latter was simply using all sorts of excuses because he knew he might graze Maxen's pride and ego. When he looked back, Conrad already stood up from his seat and was standing near the stand where he was pouring himself a glass of wine.

"I'm not, Mister Cloven," Conrad replied without casting him a look. "I told you, everything I do is for my daughter."

He slowly picked up the wineglass and turned to face Maxen. "As I've said, I'm a man who always thinks of the future and considers every possibility. My point here is, although I do not care about your status and life, life isn't a fairytale and it will take a lot of sacrifices to make our world bearable to live in," he explained as he peeled his eyes away from Maxen and walked towards the window.

"You can call this help if things didn't go the way I see them, but if they did..." he cocked his head back and his eyes instantly fell on Maxen. "I won't allow my daughter to be with someone who couldn't provide the things I can give her and the life she deserved." — because, at the end of the day, love wasn't enough to feed his daughter.

Love could make her happy, but once problems arose, which always happen, it would slowly take away her smile. Conrad was certain Cosette wouldn't have a problem financially; he secured her future already. But he didn't want her to be with an insecure man.

That would ruin the two of them.

"You know that well, do you, Mister Cloven?" he added, rendering Maxen speechless. Maxen couldn't even speak a word after that as he simply bowed his head as a farewell, but before he could close the door, Conrad spoke once again.

"Mister Cloven, pride is not entirely a poor trait; it has its significant benefits. However, sometimes, pride can do us more damage. Sometimes, because of it, we missed opportunities and we find ourselves in a stagnant life with no improvement, leaving us with only regrets. I sincerely hope you think about my offer."

Maxen pursed his lips and tilted his head down. "I will, Sir."

With that being said, Maxen finally left and Conrad didn't stop him. The latter stayed in his spot, eyes on the shut door for an entire minute before it opened once again, revealing his executive assistant, Warren.

Warren had this already intrigued expression plastered on his face while he was pointing over his shoulder and closing the door.

"Boss, did you scold the boy?" he asked without beating around the bush as Maxen ignored him as if he was in a trance or deep in thought. Conrad pressed his lips into a thin line before he faced the window once again, swirling the wine in his hand until the red liquid coated the transparent glass.

"Warren." Conrad raised the glass to his lips, sniffing the wine's aroma. "Sometimes, I wonder what would happen to me and my daughter if she didn't open up to me?"

His assistant's brows creased as he scratched his temple. "The same…?"

"I mean our future…" Conrad gazed down at the wine and stared at his distorted reflection. "… we would've lost each other, and that is all because of pride… that's what I think would happen, or rather, that is what she, Cozie, taught me."