Chapter 1918 - The Gender-reveal Party (7)

When Sarah finished with food, Maksim approached her.

"Do you have a minute?"

Sarah glanced at Aiden who gave her a small nod and she smiled in return.

Sarah knew that it's not easy for Aiden to let Sarah talk to Maksim, but he believes that she can handle the situation. And if Maksim tries anything funny, one of the invisible drones will take him out.

Aiden liked that Sarah silently asked him for permission to talk to Maksim. It made him feel in charge, even though he knew that Sarah can do whatever she wants.

Aiden gave Sarah a light kiss before releasing her hand so that she can go and talk to Maksim. Aiden made sure to glare at Maksim as they moved away.

"Congratulations…", Maksim said when they started walking randomly through the garden.

"Thanks.", Sarah responded, assuming that he is congratulating her on the pregnancy. "Hong praised for you. Thank you for helping him with the transition."

"It's not a problem."

Three steps later, Sarah could not contain her curiosity. "Did you call me here with a reason, or just to chat randomly?"

Maksim gave her his signature cocky smile. "Direct. I like it."

Sarah didn't respond. She waited for him to answer her question, and she didn't wait long.

"I want to join the Army of Chaos."

Sarah's steps halted. "Why?"

"I find it to be fascinating."

"Many do, but they also have some other reason. You don't need money or fame or anything that I can offer. Actually, it would be a downgrade for you. Right now, you are helping Hong, but you don't have anyone above you. You have money, assets, your own people. If you join the Army of Chaos, you will start from the bottom, and people will order you around. No matter how skilled you are, it will take time for you to prove yourself and rise in the ranks so… Why do you want to join the Army of Chaos?"

Maksim pursed his lips. "From the bottom? Can't you pull some strings so that I start from the middle? If you say that I'm not the bottom feeder, it will be so."

Sarah was not sure how to respond to this. "Are you serious?"

Maksim shrugged. "Maybe."

"You can't join.", Sarah rejected him.

"Why?"

"Because we don't take in 'maybe' people. I need people with a purpose. People I can rely on. Honestly, I don't see what is driving you and that makes you unstable. I don't need a soldier who will not be there when I need him.", Sarah responded honestly.

"I thought that I showed you more than once that you can rely on me."

Sarah didn't deny it. "True. However, all those happened when it worked for you, and not because I gave an order."

"I could follow your orders, Divna."

"I am not so sure."

"How can I prove it?"

"Why are you doing this, Maksim? I told you that you did me a big favor and I am ready to reward you lavishly. Do you want a house? A boat? An island? Name it."

"I want to join the Army of Chaos.", Maksim persisted.

"That is something I can't give."

"You don't trust me."

Sarah smiled. "See? You didn't ask if I trust you. You made a statement because you know the answer. You have everything I could give you and that makes you unpredictable. My soldiers are loyal to me and if you join, I can't treat you as more than a mercenary. Or can you guarantee that you will be available at any time to execute whatever I ask you to?"

Sarah spoke lightly, but Maksim was not amused.

"Don't deny me to join your army by closing the door in my face before I got an opportunity to show you my skills."

"The Army of Chaos is not about skills, Maksim. It's about commitment and loyalty."

Maksim was not willing to give up. "You offered me lavish gifts, and I want a chance."

Sarah was stupefied. "Why?"

Maksim's cocky smile fell, and he looked into her green eyes with sincerity and a hint of desperation. "Because you are amazing, Divna. I see people following you without asking questions and I wonder if you are that good or if you brainwashed them somehow. The fact that you are smoking hot and brilliantly dangerous only adds to your appeal and I want a chance to find out your secrets."

Sarah's mouth was half open, unsure how to respond to this because Maksim caught her off guard completely. She didn't expect to hear a love confession. Was that a love confession? Didn't he start their talk by congratulating her on the pregnancy? And he knows that she is married, and there is still blue confetti all over the place!

Sarah was pulled out of her daze when she heard a low growl in her ear stud. It was Aiden. "One more philandering word out of his filthy mouth and I will rip his head off!"

Sarah exhaled a long breath while thinking about what to do. Accepting Maksim's request didn't seem right, but denying it felt off as well. And the most shocking part was that Eve told her that Maksim's last statement was true. 

"Alright. I will give you a chance.", Sarah said after some time. "But I hope you understand that because of your background, I can't let you in the Army of Chaos. If you have ulterior motives, you are too dangerous."

Maksim's brows furrowed. "What do you suggest?"

"Help your Uncle. Show your sincerity by helping Gedeon stabilize your family."

"How will that help me get closer to you?", Maksim asked shamelessly, making Aiden curse again, which Sarah heard through her ear stud.

"Your Uncle will tell me how committed you are and if you do your part well, we can discuss further steps in… six months."

Maksim narrowed his eyes for a moment before his lips lifted into a smirk. "I heard you throw an awesome Christmas party."

Sarah thought how Christmas is about six months away. Will Maksim be able to behave for six months? What if he puts on an act until then, and after that he reverts to whatever craziness he has under that handsome face?

She is not a fan of Maksim's personality. His confidence is over the top and he sometimes gives her the creeps. But he helped her escape and he saved Vasily. Sarah gave a chance to so many others, so… "If you do your part well, you are welcome to come to our Christmas party this December with Hong, and then we can discuss possibilities of you joining the Army of Chaos. By then, both of us will have a better understanding of each other as we will get limited opportunities to interact as Lebedevs and Voronins conduct joint training of recruits. I am leading the Army of Chaos, but I am also the Grand Elder of the Lebedev family."

Maksim's signature cocky smile was on. "You have a deal. What do you want for Christmas?"

Sarah laughed weakly. If nothing else, Maksim is determined. "It's too early for Christmas but… You can get a cute outfit for my son." She rubbed her flat belly affectionately.

Maksim's lips twitched. Is she really expecting him to go baby shopping?

Sarah looked at Maksim's frozen expression and she burst into laughter.

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