The Only Way is Up

Part Forty

Chapter Forty

He hated them all. That was the only conclusion that Maxim could come to. She'd warned them that they were bad, that she was embarrassed to be introducing them. She also warned him that they'd hate him. That had made him laugh and ask why she was taking him, and her answer had floored him, "I've never had anyone in my camp before." And that was a HUGE injustice.

She was right about it all. Nicole's father was a sexist pig, someone he recognised as being 'titled gentry' in the country he was living in. Unfortunately that didn't ensure that the man had manners, courtesy or an ounce of dignity. He was also extremely pitiful. If Max hadn't known that he'd blown the family's wealth, one hundred and fifty years of certified and respected business in one swoop then he'd maybe have not noticed that nuance. But he did, and he had. And he felt like shaking the man.

Not that he was any different from those born into privilege in any other country he'd lived in. His father was the same, only worse, more crooked, more determined and very successful.

But her father wasn't the worst. Neither were the two chinless brothers he was rather reluctantly introduced to when they arrived. Their names evaded him, but they were presumably as ineffectual as the two boys stood in front of him and bore said names. They were expressionless, emotionless and barely set eyes on their sister, Nicole who squirmed awkwardly beside her.

He placed his hand on the small of her back, fingers splayed, hoping that she'd take some strength from him, because she needed it, as to her right was the REAL driving force of the family. Her mother.

Never had Max looked at someone and instantly disliked them, but he had with her, and he could tell it was mutual. He searched his brain for the word to describe her and it took him a while to come up with 'haughty'. But that wasn't enough, and she didn't just look down her nose at him, she did it to everyone gathered, except Nicole. But he knew there wasn't a lot of love lost there, but her mother had an agenda and was trying not to piss off her daughter, he could pick up on that.

She was staring at him, but he wasn't about to reveal anything about himself. He was lucky that he didn't resemble his father in anyway, but he couldn't hide the fact that he was Russian and the last thing he needed was someone making that connection tonight.

Nicole was tensing more and more as they stood in the lounge, an awkward group with very stilted conversation.

Eventually three others arrived and they were introduced by name, but were obviously the legal team. He stood beside Nicole just watching, if this wasn't one step away from his father then he'd almost laugh at it all, instead he was waiting for the relevant conversations that would tell him what he needed to know.

"Dinner is served."

All twelve people gathered looked up at that towards the woman who opened the double doors at the far end of the rather palatial lounge. At that point her mother took over, leading the way commandingly.

He couldn't imagine Nicole growing up in this environment, in the pomp, ceremony and the coldness that he knew came with a life in a house like this. She was warm, friendly and loving, and he could only fear how growing up in a home like this would affect her.

Nicole slid her hand into Maxim's and squeezed it, when he looked down at her she tried to smile.

"Sorry this is horrible."

He grinned, "I'm just glad that I'm here with you. I find it hard to see you here, amongst all this shit."