Billionaire’s Regret: The One He Lost

Maxine Mason paused, turning Braxton Payne’s repeated use of "every time" over in her head. It clicked. He was offering her a raise. Braxton waited for her answer, one eye squinted slightly. "Still not happy?"

"No," Maxine blurted before she thought twice. Then, after a beat of hesitation, she asked, "Mr. Payne, do you honestly think I’ve been pushing this hard just for more money?" She’d hoped he’d see the fire in her, but all it boiled down to for him was a cash grab.

Braxton tilted his head and said nothing. His silence said everything. At least the money’s here, Maxine told herself.

Ten minutes later, Maxine finished her assignments and headed back to her desk. She sorted her papers, then dropped her bombshell of a request: "My father, Jake Mason, is threatening to sell my mom to pay off his gambling debts. I need a million dollars by eight tonight."

Braxton, who’d been flipping through a contract, froze mid-page. He smirked. "Your old man’s got some real nerve, huh? Last time it was a hundred grand. Now it’s a million?"

Maxine’s shame and guilt coiled tight in her chest despite his jab, her eyes glued to the surface of his desk. Braxton didn’t even bat an eye. He scribbled the amount out on a check and slid it across to her. "Count it as an advance on your year-end bonus."

Maxine stared at the check but didn’t reach for it. Her voice came out soft, steady. "I need you to warn Jake Mason. He’s gone too far this time, using my mom against me."

She held Braxton’s stare, unflinching. "I know I can’t cut him loose for good right now, but I want him to feel pain. A little of it."

Braxton’s surprise melted into approval. He nodded. "And what do I get out of this?"

He already knew her only leverage was herself. Maxine turned, locked the office door, and walked right back to him. She slipped her clothes off one by one until she was standing naked in front of him.

"I picked up some new tricks lately, Mr. Payne. You interested?"

Braxton spread his legs, his eyes blazing with hunger. "I’m all yours."

Three hours later, a worn-out Maxine pulled her clothes back on and checked the clock, a gentle reminder. "It’s time to get moving, Mr. Payne."

No one ever questioned Braxton’s connections. One nod from him was all it took to get the wheels turning. As eight o’clock ticked closer, he slowly packed up his things, slipped on his coat, and called to her: "Let’s go."

Maxine’s anxiety climbed with every tick of the clock, but when he stood to leave, she hesitated. "I can go alone."

"I’ll drive," he said—no room to argue.

To her shock, Braxton got behind the wheel himself. Maxine sat rigid in the passenger seat, unused to this sudden softness from him. Was this just the afterglow of what they’d done that afternoon?

She was still lost in thought when they pulled up to the casino. The whole place blazed with neon, the roar of the crowd growing louder the closer they got. The security guard moved to frisk them, but Braxton’s voice dropped low, cutting him off. "You really need to check my people?"

"Mr. Payne! Welcome, sir," the guard’s whole demeanor flipped instantly, and he ushered them inside with a bow.

Maxine’s eyebrows shot up—how was he so at home here? A regular? He rarely came around, but everyone knew him. Sensing her curiosity, Braxton leaned in as they wove through the crowd, his breath warm against her ear. "I’m a shareholder here."

This wasn’t Jake Mason’s first time gambling here, which meant Braxton had known who he was all along. He’d never said a word. A cold chill crept up Maxine’s spine. For the first time, she understood just how little she mattered to him.

"Well, look who it is! Brought Mr. Payne to pay my tab, didn’t you? My girl knows how to make an entrance," Jake Mason slurred, half-drunk at the bar, yelling loud enough for the whole room to hear. "See this? My daughter, Mr. Payne’s mistress. You all better remember that."

The onlookers swapped glances, their interest perked right up.

"Ow—"

A sharp scream cut through the noise. Jake clutched his rapidly swelling cheek, already reaching to hit back, but a wall of Braxton’s guys blocked him. Three massive enforcers moved in fast, their moves so sharp the crowd scattered to get out of their way.

Jake ducked and roared, "You little brat, make them stop! Don’t you wanna know where your mom is?"

Maxine’s brow furrowed so deep it ached. Years of hurt and rage boiled up, clouding her judgement. She forced herself to breathe through it, and over the sick crunch of fists hitting flesh, she ordered, "Stop."

The men looked to Braxton. He nodded, letting them know Maxine was in charge now.

Jake’s face lit up with triumph, thinking his little threat worked. "I knew you cared about your mom—"

*Smack—*

A stinging slap cut him off. Maxine had hit him with every ounce of strength she had, and her right hand shook uncontrollably. She glared right through him. "Where is my mom?"

"You little brat, how dare you hit me! You’ll never see her again!" Jake sneered.

*Smack—*

The second slap landed just as hard. Jake clutched his face, stunned. His quiet, doormat daughter was standing up to him. His voice shook. "You… you…"

"Where is she?" Maxine snapped, rage pushing her right to the edge.

Jake still tried to play hardball. Maxine grabbed a wine glass off the nearest table, smashed it against the edge, and pressed the jagged broken rim right to his throat. She spoke slow, clear, cold. "Where. Is. My. Mom?"

"You don’t got the guts to kill me. All these people saw you—even if you try, you’ll never get away with this!" Jake barked, emboldened by the split second she hesitated.

"Mr. Payne?" The casino guards edged closer, asking for his call.

Braxton watched, thoroughly entertained. He’d never seen this side of Maxine before. If he’d known it’d be this fun, he’d have pushed Jake over the edge a long time ago.

Maxine’s eyes turned red. She tightened her grip, pressing the glass shard deeper until blood trickled down Jake’s neck. She pushed harder, snarling, "Are you gonna talk now?"

Jake finally realized he wasn’t bluffing. He spun to beg Braxton. "She’s your secretary! If she kills me, Payne Corp gets dragged into a huge lawsuit. You’re just gonna stand there and let her?"

Braxton had been ready for that exact line. He smiled calm as you please. "The cameras are off."

The color drained from Jake’s face. Maxine’s resolve hardened. She pushed the glass down another half-inch, and blood flowed faster.

"I’ll talk! I’ll talk! She’s in Room F on the second floor!" Jake caved, desperate, scared out of his mind.

Maxine’s grip went limp. She stumbled back, her hands falling loose to her sides. A strong pair of arms caught her before she hit the floor. She glared at Jake, her voice low and deadly. "If you ever touch my mom again, this glass goes straight through your throat."

With that, she hurried up the stairs, found her mother, and asked Braxton to help get her home safe. Once everything was sorted, she climbed back into his car.

Braxton had waited patiently this whole time. He faked innocence. "Aren’t you going home with your mom?"

Maxine clicked her seatbelt into place, her voice calm. "You did me a huge favor, Mr. Payne. It’s only right I pay you back properly."

If he hadn’t been there, there was no way Jake would have caved and told her where her mom was so fast.