CHAPTER 41: SOFT POWER, HARD FLEX

TWO DAYS LATER,

CENTRAL CITY.

Zacks eyes darted around like he was trying to memorize every inch of the place.

"This is your place?" Zack asked, almost as if he didn’t believe it.

Maximus shrugged his shoulders slightly, "yep..."

Zack turned in a slow circle, taking in everything— the massive estate, the pristine landscaping, every single thing...

"Bro, I knew you were doing well, but this?" He let out a low whistle. "This is next level"

"Why didn’t you invite me since?"

Maximus smirked, "Never came up..."

Zack shook his head, still looking around in awe. "I was gonna ask after we bought Obsidian, but you’ve been away for three days! You live in a gaddam palace, Maximus".

Maximus shrugged again, "it’s just a house..."

Zack groaned and clenched his jaw. "I swear, you are the worst kind of rich person..."

Maximus chuckled. "Come on. We need to check on the resort site today, see if the order of building materials I paid for has come in."

Zack let out a breath, rubbing the back of his head. "Fine, fine. But I’m gonna need a full tour of this place later."

Maximus smirked. "We’ll see..."

With that, they headed inside.

The moment Zack stepped inside, he looked around, his expectations sky-high.

He had been ready for a wave of beautiful maids in tight uniforms to greet them, bowing respectfully as they entered.

Maybe some high tech automated butlerey system. At the very least, some ridiculously over the top luxury.

Instead, it was blunt.

Zack blinked his eyes several times. "Wait, that’s it?"

Maximus, already walking toward the kitchen, barely spared him a glance.

"What were you expecting?"

"I don’t know man, something! I thought you’d have , like, maids or butlers or at least some kind of personal chef."

Maximus let out a small chuckle as he pulled out a kettle. "I don’t need all that."

Zack gave him a look like he’d just spoken in tongues. "Bro you’re rich. Act like it!"

Maximus just shook his head and grabbed two cups, setting them down on the counter as the water heated up.

Zack leaned against the couch, still trying to process how normal everything was.

"Alright, but hear me out," Zack said, gesturing around the room. "A few housekeepers wouldn’t hurt. Maybe one of those hot, sexy housekeepers to keep you company whenever you need ’it’."

"Hell, at least a fridge stocked with some high quality liquor."

Maximus reached for a container of granola. "I don’t need housekeepers, but I have thought of a hot, sexy maid... And I don’t drink at all"

Zack let out a dramatic groan, throwing his head backwards. "Why? You have all this money, and you’re living like a minimalist."

Maximus shrugged. "I just like having my space."

Zack sighed in disappointment as Maximus poured out water into the cups, stirring the granolas with ease. "You’re wasting so much potential, man."

Maximus handed Zack a cup of milked granola. "I’ll think about it."

Zack took the cup, frowning deeply. "This isn’t booze."

"No genius..." Maximus said flatly.

Zack started at him. "You’re really not gonna offer me a drink?"

"I don’t have alcohol here, I’m giving you what I have..."

Zack groaned again, but he took a spoon nonetheless. "This is why I’m the fun one."

Maximus smirked. "If by ’fun’ you mean ’impulsive’ then by all means you’re the fun one."

They stood there in silence for a while, taking the granola.

Despite Zack’s grumbling, he didn’t seem too bothered. He might have wanted something stronger, but Maximus knew he still appreciated the moment.

After they finished, Maximus placed his cup in the sink and turned back to Zack. "We should head to the resort site. See if the order came in."

Zack stretched till his joints popped and then nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Let’s go."

As they stepped out of the house, Zack still couldn’t get over how empty Maximus’s mansion felt.

Maximus started the car, the engine humming softly.

Zack leaned into the passenger seat, rubbing it’s soft leather coating. "This baby is so beautiful... You know it wouldn’t kill you to live a little. Some good whiskey, a few maids and maybe even a Jacuzzi."

Maximus sighed. "I’ll think about it, just not the alcohol."

Zack scoffed, "you say that, but I know you won’t. Besides what do you have against alcohol?"

Maximus didn’t bother responding. Instead, he shifted his gears and Obsidian rolled out of the driveway.

She tore through the road, its sleek frame cutting through the warm afternoon air as Maximus pressed down the gas.

The hum of the engine was smooth and powerful, a sound that made Zack grin as he leaned back in his seat, one hand resting casually on the window.

"Now this is what I’m talking about!" Zack exclaimed, tilting his head slightly as the wind whipped past the open window. He let out a satisfied sigh. "Man, I almost regret never getting a sports car."

Maximus smirked, keeping his eyes on the road. "Almost?"

"Yeah, almost — but you know me. I prefer my money working for me, not sitting in my garage looking pretty."

Maximus scoffed but didn’t argue.

Now, their priority was getting to the resort site to check if the construction materials had arrived.

Obsidian ate up the distance between them and their destination, and soon, the paced road transitioned into a gravel path leading toward the construction site.

Maximus eased up on the accelerator, feeling the shift in terrain as the tires crunched over loose dirt and small rocks.

In the distance, the unfinished complex stood tall— it’s skeletal frame bathed in the golden afternoon light. Workers were still scattered around, some unloading supplies while others reviewed blueprints under a shaded tent.

The constant clanking of metal and low murmur of conversation filled the air.

Zack stretched his arms and let out a dramatic sigh. "Man, I hope they have something cold to drink. It’s way too hot out here."

Maximus killed the engine and pulled the keys from the ignition. "You just had my world class granola..."

"Yeah, it was tasty and good. I don’t know about it being ’world class’ though" Zack shot back with a smirk. "What, you keeping tabs on my hydration schedule now?"

Maximus shook his head and stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind him. The sun was high, it’s heat pressing down on them as they made their way towards the main construction tent.

One of the site managers, a middle aged man with a clipboard tucked under his arm, noticed their approach and waved them over.

Zack recognized him— Mr. Barry Allen, the construction chief in charge of overseeing the project.

"You’re here earlier than I expected." Barry said, adjusting his hard hat. His sharp gaze moved between them before setting on Maximus. "You looking to inspect the shipment?"

"Yes," Maximus replied, glancing at the packed trucks. "Has everything arrived?"