Martha arrived at the lobby to see Henry talking with Drake. The atmosphere was a little tense so she kept quiet when she arrived.
"Okay so send the last report on Country C's Lucious to my office later today " Henry said in summary of all he has been saying.
"Shall we?" Henry asked with his hands pointing towards the door signifying if Martha was ready to go.
"Um...Martha are you going somewhere??" Drake asked when he saw Henry leading Martha out.
"She's having lunch with me..." Henry said before Martha got a chance to reply.
"Um...Yes...we have some things to talk about concerning Lucious project so we'll talk about it during lunch" Martha chiped in when she notice the sudden change in the atmosphere. It was like she was in the middle of a thousand men battle and found it quite difficult to breath.
"We should get going now...I got a lot of things to do later...see you later Drake" Martha said as she was escorted by Henry towards the restaurant across the street.
Drake was left staring at their back view with a sunken face until they faded from his view.
" Hey sis Priya...bro...Um...do you mind if I join you for lunch?" Max said when he met Chris in the hallway with Priya.
"Sure...but you have to take your medications in my presence okay..." Chris asked as he tried to read Max's expression.
"No problem...can we go now?" Max answered immediately and was led by Chris and Priya to the cafeteria. When they arrived, Monica was talking with Peter with a smile on her face. Max was left stunned as he has never seen such a beautiful smile on her face before.
"Monica...sorry for keeping you guys waiting " Priya said as she gave Monica a hug. "Peter...sup bro" Chris greeted Peter with their usual handshake as he took a sit close to Priya.
"I'm sure you've met my lil bro...Max" Chris said to Peter. "Mhmm" that was the only word that Peter said while he kept scrutinising Max with an unpleased expression.
"C'mon guys let's go get our lunch" Chris said as he dragged Priya and Peter along leaving Monica alone with Max.
The atmosphere was a little distant as they noticed Peter's gaze on them so neither of them took the initiative to start a conversation.
Max couldn't keep up with the silence so he took out his phone to text Monica.
Max: "I saw your smile...it was really beautiful "
Monica ears turned red as she replied with a thank you.
It wasn't everyday Monica smiled as she always kept an expressionless face all day long. It was after she met Max that she came out of her shell and started leaving a friendly smile on her face while she talked.
Monica: "How come you don't look so scary while talking to me?"
Max: "I look scary??" Max asked with raised eyebrow.
Monica: "no no...I mean you look cute when you smile so you should smile more often" she said with a chuckle.
"like this?" He questioned as he gave her a dazzling smile to which she bowed her head with a blush.
"What's making by baby sister red like a tomato?" Priya teased Monica when she came and met Monica with a red face.
'So cute...' that was the only thought that came to the brothers mind and Peter just smiled as he has seen her like this before.
"Okay hurry with your lunch i got a class in 10 minutes " Peter said as he passed Monica her lunch. They ate with the twins and Chris cracking jokes while Monica and Max stole sideway glance at each other.
....
"This way sir..." a waitress escorted Henry and Martha to their table with a friendly smile when they came in.
After they sat down, they made their orders and where left in silence waiting for their meals. "So Martha...How's Monica...its been long I heard from her" Henry tried to start a conversation while they were waiting.
"She's fine...she's doing well" Martha replied. "The Lucious representatives where changed at the last minutes do you know of the reason?" Martha said as she tried to change the topic.
"I'm not sure...its unlike what I've heard of Lucy...I'm sure an emergency came up" Henry replied. He was obviously aware that she changed the topic unpurpose but he didn't pursue it any further.
Their food were served and they ate in silence. Martha just brushed all Henry's question in a flat and distant tone unlike the tone she used when talking with Drake.
"I got a lot of work to do so I'll be heading back" Martha said after she finished eating and took her leave without waiting for Henry's reply.
'Sigh..why is she so dense' Henry thought to himself as he watched Martha exit the restaurant.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged good looking man was seen humming to himself as he exited the airport.
This man was obviously Mr Maxwell.
He decided to come a day ahead of schedule with the excuse of familiarising himself with his long left hometown.