The next evening,Maxwell got home and didn't find Ricky there. He intended to place a call over to him, then Ricky's message suddenly dropped.
Mr Kant. There's a company dinner tonight. I'll be back a bit late.
Maxwell was annoyed. "You've been leaving early and coming home late from work all week. What the heck are you even doing?" He mumbled. Then he sent a message.
When are you coming back?
There was no response.
Maxwell waited for Ricky so long. He couldn't even sleep. He kept waiting and checking the wall clock. Vee called Maxwell at some point to come and have a few drinks with him and Raymond at a club. He succumbed since Ricky wasn't home anyways.
"Maxwell,feels like the last time I saw you was in another life time" Raymond said as he passed Maxwell a glass of wine. "Its indeed been a long time. I've almost forgotten what you look like" Assessing Maxwell's face Raymond noticed something was off. "Why do you look a little upset today? Huh?"
"Why would I be upset?" Maxwell grumbled looking so mad.
"You didn't have a fight with your orchid-scented Omega,did you?" Vee guessed what was wrong.
"Why would we fight?" Maxwell said grumpily.
Raymond brought Maxwell several glasses of wine repeatedly making sure he got so drunk that he couldn't walk without support. And they had Omega companions who fawned over Maxwell for he was so handsome even in his drunkenness.
**********
Ricky opened the door and saw Edwin supporting the drunk Maxwell whose eyes were opening and closing at intervals squinting at Ricky the moment they saw him. Ricky looked away annoyed and disgusted at the Omega stench emanating from Maxwell. He let Edwin take Maxwell in and shut the door behind them. He watched as Edwin laid him down on a sofa. Maxwell was quite troublesome when drunk. He kept mumbling gabbage and belching nonstop.
"Secretary Brown,take care of Mr Kant" Edwin said to Ricky
"I will" Ricky mumbled
"I'll take my leave" Edwin shut the door leaving Ricky who stared daggers at the drunk and belching Maxwell who was squinting around. Ricky went ahead to make him hangover soup,he brought it to Maxwell.
Maxwell sat up,looked at Ricky between closed eyes and asked. "Where did you go? How was your company dinner?"
Ricky stared viciously at Maxwell while steering the soup. "Went to a noisy Korean BBQ place. Super noisy but not fun at all" As he spoke his pheromones gushed out and almost made contact with Maxwell's neck,coincidentally Maxwell rubbed his hand on his neck at that point. The repercussion of that was Maxwell getting marked by Ricky Unknowningly. Fortunately that didn't happen.
Ricky contained his pheromones. He got hold of himself before anger and jealousy exposed him. He was glad Maxwell was drunk and didn't notice what happened. "What about you?" Ricky mused. "Where did you go? You came back so late"
"What has it got to do with you. None of your business" Maxwell snapped.
Ricky dropped the bowl of soup. "None of my business?" He bent down bringing his face closer to the belching beauty. "Such a strong Omega scent. I can smell it even through the door" He caressed Maxwell's face and said softly. "Mr Kant. Did you let an Omega mark you?"
"Its none of your business" Maxwell snapped slapping away Ricky's hand.
Ricky stood straight. "You're right. I'll return to my room" Ricky said. "Goodnight" As Ricky was about to walk away Maxwell caught his hand.
"Why are your hands cold?" Maxwell asked but got no response from Ricky who was mad at him for going out and bringing in the stench of various Omegas. "Ricky,you've been waiting for me for a long time too" Maxwell said and Ricky dragged his hand away from Maxwell's firm grip leaving him to sleep on the couch.
Ricky started to avoid Maxwell from that day on . He was so hurt. So he'll leave the house before Maxwell woke up and went back after he had slept. It dragged on for weeks until Maxwell couldn't take it much anymore. He went crazy one day seeing a note Ricky deliberately left on the kitchen table.
"Work to-do list.Remind Mr Ronald to have his lunch break at 1:30pm. Remind Mr Ronald to attend a meeting at 3:30pm" Maxwell read aloud and smirked. "Peem Ronald isn't an idiot,why do you need to remind him to eat? Crazy! He takes care of Peem Ronald's lunch breaks at work but refuses to talk to me at home? Humph! Since he ignores me,why did I take the long route back here?" He squeezed the list and flung it on the floor in anger. He walked out in rage his chest heaving so much and his breath was laboured like he was going to break down. He hadn't gotten five feet from the door when his phone vibrated with a notification.
Mr Kant,thank you for taking care of me all these days. I've thought about it,its really inappropriate to continue to bother you. I've already found another place to stay. I'm moving out tonight. Dinner's in the fridge,remember to eat. Also I'll return the money you lent me on time. But if there's nothing else,let's not see each other again.
Maxwell was scared "what does he mean to not see each other again?" He walked back into the house and saw Ricky coming out of the room with his luggage. "Where are you going?" He screamed.
Ricky looked down timidly. "Mr Kant,you're just in time. I wanted to thank you in person. Thank you for everything, bye" He walked past Maxwell who was already shaking violently,he just couldn't cope without Ricky anymore,this was his new weakness. His words came out,he was spouting what he didn't mean out of anger and need. "You come and go as you wish. What do you take my place for? A shelter?"
Ricky paused and turned around. "I'm sorry. What do you want me to do then?"
"What do I want?" Maxwell scoffed. "Can I do whatever I want?"
"Right. If you want to see me again then forget about it" Ricky said shakily
"Why?" Maxwell sighed his eyes already bloodshot. "You don't want to play games like only kissing but doing nothing further with me anymore?" He moved closer to Ricky. "Or you've found an Alpha who's willing to mark you forever?"
"No" Ricky cried softly his tears rolling down slowly.
Maxwell came back to his senses, seeing the tears, he softened and squeezed Ricky's shoulder. Ricky took away Maxwell's hand from his shoulder crying profusely. "I don't want things to be like this anymore" Ricky said admist silent sobs.
Maxwell calmed already asked. "Why?"
Ricky stared into his eyes and said "Because I love you a lot"
Maxwell was shocked.
"Everytime I think about you being with other Omegas. I get twisted by jealousy and loose myself. That makes me a terrible person". Ricky's chuckle was filled with sadness. "So let's forget it. Let's not see each other again. Mr Kant,I wish you happiness" Ricky turned to leave.
"We are not done talking where are you going?" Maxwell held him back.
"I've said everything I have to say. Leg go of me" Ricky struggled with Maxwell's tight grip on his wrist.
"But I didn't agree" Maxwell said holding Ricky's hand and drawing him closer. "Ricky,be good. Let's sit and talk. Okay?"
"Let's talk here" Ricky said stubbornly. "I'll leave when we are done talking"
"It'll take a while to talk it out. Stop messing around. Put your luggage back to your room" Maxwell touched and caressed the hand that rested on the luggage. "Be good"
Ricky finally let go of the luggage. He was such a cry baby, Maxwell thought. He looked cute while crying.
Seeing that Ricky succumbed and sat down quietly staring at the space in front of him,Maxwell got him a glass of warm water and sat down beside him.
"Thanks you" Ricky said collecting the water.
"Ricky. Let's make peace. Let's stop doing this okay?" Maxwell coaxed him as he slipped his hand into Ricky's, kissing the delicate skin of his palm. "Let's not fight again,okay?"
Ricky nodded. "Okay"
Maxwell kissed his forehead softly.