Johna and Mateo had roped Darno into their plan.
They knew exactly the kind of man he was: a thrill-seeker. Someone who loved the rush of fighting , not just because he was good at it, but because he liked using his fists… maybe a little too much.
They also knew there were practical reasons to include him.
First: from what they had seen earlier, if they wanted to get to the red-haired man, they needed to separate him from his bodyguard.
They assumed the massive man , Na , wasn't a permanent guard.
To them, Max looked like some soft rich kid from a rival company. It made sense that his company had just loaned him a guard to impress them during the visit. Eventually, they believed, the guard would leave.
If he didn't… then they needed someone who could force him away.
And Darno was the only one they knew who had the skill , and the nerve , to do it.
Second: if by chance the redhead called the guard back, they needed someone strong enough to keep that monster occupied while they handled Max.
So they had told Darno: wait outside, out of sight, and call the others the second Max was spotted.
Originally, Darno wanted nothing to do with it. Getting involved meant risk. If things went wrong, Nesa would have his head on a silver platter.
But then… he had an idea.
'Wait… maybe I can turn this whole thing around,' Darno thought, leaning against a streetlamp with his arms folded.
'If they're the ones who give him a beating… then I can swoop in and save him. Play the hero.
'They don't know who he really is. And I don't give a damn if the two of them get fired , they're not worth much anyway.
'But if I save the day… maybe I keep my job. Maybe I even get praised for it.'
That was when Darno's eyes narrowed.
Na was walking out of the building… alone.
The massive man strode calmly down the pavement, disappearing around the corner.
Darno's eyebrows furrowed.
"Did they split up?" he muttered. "Has he sent the guard home…?"
His stomach twisted.
"If that's the case… will they try to attack him now? Without the guard there?"
He stayed frozen for a few moments, debating. If Na came back and saw Max bloodied, they'd all be done for.
Finally, Darno decided to wait. Just long enough for Na to be completely out of sight…
Then he pushed off the lamppost, shoving his hands into his pockets, and headed back inside.
Hoping the worst hadn't already happened.
Meanwhile, inside the Fortis Group building…
Max had just left Darno's luxurious suite, satisfied it would make the perfect personal base.
He was walking down the hallway, still thinking about how to refit the place, when he spotted two familiar figures ahead.
Johna. Mateo.
They seemed startled to see him… and more importantly, startled to see him alone.
"Oh… Sir Max, I believe it was," Johna said quickly, masking his surprise behind an overly formal tone.
"Yes," Mateo added with a false grin. "We were just looking for you.
"Nesa told us we should… get you something. As an apology for our behaviour earlier."
Max blinked at them.
It was painfully obvious what this was.
They weren't here to apologise.
They were walking close , too close , one on either side, boxing him in.
And they were steering him down a quieter stretch of the upper hall.
"You know Nesa has my number," Max said evenly. His voice was calm, but his eyes flicked from one to the other, watching. "If she really wanted to speak to me, she could always just call."
Mateo chuckled, shaking his head , and suddenly slung an arm around Max's neck, like they were old friends.
It took everything in Max not to rip the arm off him right there and plant him through the marble floor.
"It looks like you're trying to escape from us," Mateo said lightly, though his grip tightened. "I didn't think a big-shot competitor would be scared of us. Especially after that display you put on earlier."
"Right," Johna said from the other side, his voice harder. "And what was it you said before… about how we only know how to use our fists?
"Well, let us teach you something."
They were guiding him with subtle nudges, herding him down an increasingly quiet hallway.
"We're going to give you a beating," Johna said, his smile cold now, his voice dropping low, "one you'll never forget.
"That way, you'll never run your mouth again. And if you think you're going to go cry to Nesa about what happens here, " he leaned closer, his breath hot by Max's ear ", we'll make sure if you ever even think about it, your whole body freezes up before you can open your mouth."
Mateo grinned. "We're going to make you feel pain like you've never felt before."
Max stayed silent, letting them think their threats were landing.
They had no idea.
They reached a door on the far side of the corridor.
Johna stopped and glanced around. The hall was completely empty now.
"Here," he said simply.
It was the door to the men's toilets.
"These hallway toilets don't get used much," Johna explained casually, pushing the door open. "Everyone here has their own en-suite rooms.
"It's a good place for us to not be… disturbed."
"Right," Mateo agreed. His grin widened. "And there's one more thing.
"The toilets are the only place in this building where there are no cameras.
"So we can do whatever we want."
"Wow," Max said flatly.
"Sounds like you're about to kiss me."
They both froze for half a second.
Max smirked.
"It's 2025," he added casually. "People are pretty accepting of those things these days.
"If you want to kiss me, though… do it outside."
Mateo's grin snapped into a scowl.
"Still mouthing off, huh?"
With a snarl, he kicked the door open fully. Johna shoved Max hard between the shoulder blades, forcing him inside the washroom.
The door slammed shut behind them.
The air inside was cold, tiled, and echoing.
Max straightened, calmly brushing off his hoodie as he turned.
Johna and Mateo stood by the door, blocking the exit.
They were grinning , wolfish, hungry grins, the kind people wore when they thought they were about to break something.
Max's expression stayed unreadable.
"You said there are no cameras in here, right?" he asked quietly.
They blinked.
"Yeah," Johna said.
Max's lips curved.
"…Good."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Then I guess that's good for me too."