As Diana bumped into someone, the strong scent of alcohol invaded her nose.
She raised her head and glanced at the guy she walked into. He looked like a regular college guy with all those ear studs and all.
From the corner of her eyes, she noticed some other movements.
As she tilted her head to the side, she noticed a woman wearing her bra in the open hallway of the apartment complex as she walked down the stairs, adjusting her jacket. Not after she pecked the guy's cheek.
Diana's lips parted. Having studied in the US, she knew that people here were not as conservative compared to how it was on their side of the world. But having grown up in a super strict household, she was still not used to such brazen scenery.
Ahem, for some reason, she was feeling secondhand embarrassment for the girl.
The girl could have worn it in some washroom, right?
Diana blinked, clearing her throat, ''Excuse me,'' she walked past the drunk guy.
But he suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back before he slammed her to the wall, catching her off guard. She sucked in a shuddering breath when her back hit the wall.
"Hey babe, you leaving already?"
Diana gasped, ''Your babe already left. Look behind,'' Was he so drunk that he could not recognize which woman he was with?
''Oh, don't worry about her. We have nothing serious going on,'' he leaned closer to her, whispering against her neck, ''Where? Bed or here?"
The hair on the back of her neck stood up and without giving it another thought, Diana moved her knee, ready to slam it right where his family jewels were snuggled but in the next moment, the guy was yanked off her body.
Her knee hovered in the air for some time as she witnessed the scene in front of her, unable to gather her dropped jaw.
It took her a moment before she stood straight, watching Maxim slam the guy into the opposite wall before he thrust his fist into his face.
Diana winced when she heard the guy groaning before he coughed blood.
''What are you doing here?" she approached Maxim who was now grabbing the man by his collar, trying to distract him, ''Stop it!" she grabbed his elbow when he did not respond to her.
Maxim glanced at her hands that grabbed his elbow. His face was still as cold and his fist hovered in mid-air.
The hell? Is he still the beautiful skinny little boy who was bullied in school? The man in front of her could not be an impostor of the Maxim Warner whom she knew, right?
Diana's heart leapt up to her throat. The guy already coughed blood in the first punch. If another punch landed… No…
She did not know who this drunk guy was but given how blatant he was being in an open place like this, he could be some second-generation heir or something like that. But regardless, if this issue was escalated by him then it would be troublesome.
She was not certain about all the protocols but what if Maxim ended up losing his medical license over an issue like this? Worse, Maxim hit this guy first…
Diana quickly accessed the situation by looking around. There were no CCTV cameras around this shabby apartment hence they could not even explain the situation.
''You are a doctor. You are supposed to save people, not kill them,'' Diana said exasperatedly as she glanced at the guy whose face was bleeding profusely.
Maxim did not budge. If she saw it right, his grip even tightened on the guy's collar.
Diana sighed, ''I am fine. He was drunk,'' she whispered softly, suddenly feeling like she was coddling Angel to eat her food.
Maxim let go of the guy who slid down the wall like a dead snake slithering down a vine.
Diana glanced at him awkwardly, ''He is breathing, right?" she slowly squatted, intending to check his breathing but Maxim grabbed her hand.
She glared at him.
''He is alive,'' the man said.
At this moment, both of them heard a scream.
''Oh my god!"
Both Maxim and Diana turned around to look towards the source of the voice.
Diana was stunned when she saw that it was the same old lady from the library, ''Oh, this person here...'' she had just wanted to explain the situation when the lady rushed past her, grabbing the guy by his arms as she shook him.
''Ben... Ben...''
''You know him?" Diana asked.
''He is my grandson. My only grandson,'' the lady stroked his face.
Diana's jaw dropped. Her employer's only grandson. She could see her job bidding farewell to her from a distance.
Inhaling a deep breath, she spoke up, ''I will compensate for this,'' she said softly, ''Also, the medical bills.''
''It was you...'' The lady stood up, her eyes shifting from her to Maxim.
Diana closed her eyes.
''Write a formal apology unless you want me to sue you,'' The old lady said, her stern eyes darting back and forth between her and Maxim, ''How dare you come to my building for a job and do this to my grandson?"
''Your grandson was about to assault me,'' Diana spoke through gritted teeth. She did not even know what transpired here, how could she think about suing her without knowing the situation?
''But you are standing here just fine, aren't you? I know people like you too well. Just admit your mistake and apologize to him properly. You can still come to work tomorrow,'' the woman said.
Diana's lips parted. Work... Right, she needed work. But—
''Expect my lawyer,'' Maxim's words interrupted the trail of her thoughts.
Her head snapped at him.
But the man was not even looking at her. His gaze was settled on the 'under construction' board in front of the elevator.
He pulled his elbow out of her grip.
Diana glanced at her empty hand dazedly but before she could assess her emotions, he grabbed her wrist before pulling her towards the staircase.