My Gateman and I: Chapter Six
1127 Words
After I left, Max couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that had settled in his chest. He had promised my father that he would always be there for me, but now he was turning his back on me in my time of need. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing me cry, of knowing that he was the one who had caused me pain.
As the hours ticked by, Max's guilt only grew stronger. He couldn't concentrate on his work, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. All he could think about was me, and how he had let me down.
The next day, I was still reeling from the events of the previous day. I couldn't bring myself to go to work, and couldn't face the world outside. I felt lost and alone, unsure of what to do or where to turn.
But as I lay in bed, feeling sorry for myself, I knew that I had to be strong. I had to be strong for myself, for my father's memory, and Max. Yes, Max. Despite everything, I still cared for him deeply, and I knew that he was struggling with his demons.
So, after what felt like an eternity, I finally managed to muster up the energy to get out of bed and make some food. I took some of it out and made my way to Max's gateman house, hoping against hope that he would accept my peace offering.
As I approached the house, I saw Max sitting outside, his eyes fixed on the ground. He looked up as I approached, and for a moment, our eyes locked. I could see the guilt and regret written all over his face, he stood and was about leaving and my heart went out to him.
"Max, please don't go," I called out, holding out the food. "I brought this for you."
Max looked at me, his eyes softening slightly, but then he shook his head. "Thank you, Summer, but I'm not hungry."
I felt a pang of disappointment, but I refused to give up. I started begging him to please take the food from me, to please just talk to me, but Max refused. He got up and entered his room, leaving me standing there, feeling weak and defeated.
I quietly went back with the food, feeling a sense of despair wash over me. Had I lost Max forever? Had I lost the one person who truly understood me? I didn't know, but I did know that I couldn't give up. I had to keep trying, for myself, for my father, and Max.
That same evening, Williams dared to show up at my house again, thinking that he could sweet-talk his way back into my good graces. But Max was having none of it. He stood firm at the gate, his arms crossed, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity.
"I'm not letting you in, Williams," Max growled, his voice low and menacing. "You're not welcome here."
Williams sneered, thinking that he could intimidate Max into backing down. But Max was unyielding. He stood his ground, his eyes never leaving Williams' face.
The two of them stood there, locked in a silent standoff, until finally, Williams realized that he was not going to get his way. With a snarl of anger, he turned and started to come closer to the gate, but Max was quick. He pounced, his fists flying, and soon Williams was stumbling backward, his face bloody and bruised.
I heard the commotion from inside the house and rushed out to see what was happening. When I saw Max standing over Williams, his chest heaving with exertion, I felt a surge of gratitude and love for him. Even in our time of misunderstanding, Max was still willing to fight for me.
But before I could say a word, Max turned and walked away, disappearing into his gateman room. I was left standing there, feeling a mix of emotions: gratitude, love, and confusion.
I turned to Williams, who was still lying on the ground, nursing his wounds. "You're lucky Max didn't kill you," I spat, my anger and disgust evident in my voice. "Never come back to this house again. Never try to contact me again. You're not welcome in my life."
Williams looked up at me, his eyes filled with shame and embarrassment. He knew that he had gone too far, that he had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. Without a word, he stumbled to his feet and slunk away, disappearing into the night.
I watched him go, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I was finally free from Williams' toxic grasp, free to move on with my life and find happiness with someone who truly cared for me. And as I turned and walked back into my house, I started to think that that someone was Max.
As I walked back to my house, I felt a sense of gratitude towards Max for standing up for me against Williams. I couldn't help but think about how he had put himself in harm's way to protect me, and I felt a deep sense of appreciation for his actions.
I decided to go back to his gateman's house and thank him in person. I walked up to the door and called out to him, "Max, please come out. I need to talk to you."
He emerged from the house, his eyes fixed on me with a hint of curiosity. "What is it, Summer?" he asked, his voice neutral.
I took a deep breath and expressed my gratitude. "Thank you, Max. Thank you for standing up for me against Williams. I appreciate it."
But to my surprise, Max didn't respond. He just looked at me, his expression unreadable. I felt a pang of confusion and asked again, "Max, please say something. Can I at least bring you some food as a thank you?"
But Max just shook his head and turned to go back inside. "I'm not hungry, Summer. I'm fine."
I felt a sense of disappointment and frustration. I had expected some kind of response from him, some acknowledgment of my gratitude. But instead, he seemed to be shutting me out.
I stood there for a moment, feeling unsure of what to do next. But then I realized that I couldn't force Max to talk to me if he didn't want to. So I turned and went back inside my house, feeling a sense of sadness and confusion.
As I walked away, I couldn't help but wonder what was going through Max's mind. Was he still upset with me? Did he not want to talk to me? I didn't have the answers, but I knew that I had to respect his boundaries.
- Writer
