TEST DRIVE: A Night of Forbidden Desire

“Okay, Max. So, this morning, I found out why both I and Dad didn’t see you at Lucas’s party last night.”

Max closed his eyes dramatically, holding the phone to his left ear, preparing himself for his parents’ lecture.

“It’s because you left with a girl.”

Max let out a dramatic sigh. “Is that so?” His face contorted into a grimace. “Can I deny it?”

“No, you can’t. Honestly, last night, I was doubtful, but I was sure I saw a girl getting into your car. Right when you called me and said you arrived at the hotel.”

Max’s eyes opened wide. “You saw?”

“Oh, Max. I thought you were just taking that girl for a short spin because you were too excited about your new car. Turns out?”

Turns out I ended up having sex with a girl I don’t even know in my new car, Mom! Please, I hope Mom doesn’t know the truth.

“You left and didn’t come back.”

Max grimaced. One of his hands messed up his carefully combed hair.

“Mom.” Max spoke with a weak, pleading tone. “Last night, my plan was just to take the girl for a short ride. You know, to enjoy driving the car?” He rubbed his face. “It was like a test drive on these roads.” Then, he exhaled. “But…”

“But?”

This time, Max truly winced. In his heart, he screamed while closing his eyes.

But I ended up test-driving her virginity, Mom! A girl I don’t even know!

“Max?”

Max opened his eyes and realized the call was still connected.

“Yes, Mom?” Max asked, his voice pleading.

“Um… so, in essence, I’m disappointed in you. Oh, my goodness! I thought that girl was someone you wanted to introduce to me.”

As if I would introduce someone to you, Mom, when we haven’t even been introduced to each other properly! We’ve already met each other’s lips and… intimate parts!

“Yeah… anyway, that’s the only way to cancel your arranged marriage with Olivia. If you really want to cancel it, that means we have to inform your grandpa as soon as possible.”

Max started to pull at his own hair. Then, suddenly, he pictured someone else pulling his hair.

Grr!

Max swallowed and lowered his hand, choosing to sit at the edge of his bed.

“Why is marriage so complicated, Mom?”

“Oh, dear. Marriage is about uniting two families. Of course, it’s complicated. If we cancel this arrangement, the Rawnie family will look for another candidate for their daughter.”

“Oh, God. We’re humans, Mom. Not cats.”

“That’s why we, as parents, are busy searching for the best match. Besides, even cats really look for their partners. As if I will let my child, who I’ve carried for nine months, find a partner without any clarity.”

Max just shook his head with a melancholic expression on his face.

“The bottom line is, I still prioritize your feelings. You see? I accepted your decision to reject Olivia. But still, there must be a reason for the rejection, Max. That’s what I am waiting for, in the form of a woman you bring before her.”

“Mom.”

“You know how our family is. We’ve never prioritized education or background, but it still has to be from a respectable background. So, you don’t need to worry that I will reject your choice, Max. Besides, I know your taste very well. You are so thorough when it comes to car matters, especially when it comes to women.”

Max let out a long breath. “Okay, Mom. I understand.”

“So, back to the main point. When are you going to introduce that ivory-white gown girl to me?”

Once again, Max grimaced. He felt like biting his pillow right then and there. But he tried to hold himself back and answered.

“Hopefully as soon as possible, Mom. But no matter what … she needs to mentally prepare to meet you.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

Max nodded.

“I will wait, but that doesn’t mean you can delay it. I will keep pushing you. Especially now. Remember, you’ll help Lucas at his company soon, right?”

Max nodded again. Though he knew very well that his mother could not see his nod.

“Yes, Mom. I know. I’ll be at the office on time tomorrow.”

“Help Lucas. He’s already stressed out. Filling in as the department head for a while is not complicated. Besides, there’s already a vice president there, right? You won’t be too bothered.”

“Yes, Mom. Yes. Now … can this call be over?” Max asked. “I want to go out, Mom.”

“Um… to meet that girl?”

Max could not hold on any longer. “I want to get some food, Mom. Even a cat that wants to mate is fed first, right?”

“Hehehe. Okay, okay. Bye, dear.”

“Bye, Mom.”

When the call ended, Max let out a long breath as he threw his body backward onto the soft bed. He bounced a little on the mattress and stared at the ceiling of the room.

“Oh, what am I going to do with my fate next?” Max wondered. “I clearly have no idea who that girl is, and now Mom already saw her getting into my car first. Now, how on earth can I introduce her to Mom?”

Max was truly puzzled. On the one hand, he was grateful that his mother finally accepted his decision to reject the arranged marriage. However, there were still terms and conditions to be met.

“Maybe I need to eat first. Once my stomach is full, maybe my brain will start thinking again.”

Max quickly got up, ran his fingers through his hair, and grabbed the car keys. When the keys were in his hand, a smile spread across his face. The excitement of his new car immediately brought positive energy to him.

He whistled as he took the elevator down floor by floor. He smiled warmly at the security guards on duty and headed to his car, parked in a special parking area.

“Wow!”

Max grinned.

“Look! The red color is like a flame burning in broad daylight.”

Max paced around the luxury car, looking visibly delighted. Not to exaggerate, but Max’s happiness was well-founded.

Moreover, Max remembered the struggle he went through. He had to work diligently, save up, and resist the temptation of partying just to ensure he had enough money to buy the car.

But it did not end there. When he had enough money, Max was then puzzled by which model and type to choose. However, Max, who claimed himself to be an elegant man, ultimately decided that the Aventador was the most suitable for him.

Max opened the car door and sat behind the steering wheel. Only then did he realize the condition of his car at that moment. It was a mess, and he chuckled while shaking his head repeatedly.

“All the girl’s stuff is still here.”

Max reached out and grabbed a beige clutch on the dashboard. He opened it and squinted, furrowing his forehead.

“A wedding reception invitation for Lucas?” Max asked in a low voice, flipping the invitation over.

It was evident to Max that the item was an access pass for the guests to enter the event. He grinned as he read the name written on it.

“Vonda Raveena Scott.”

Max then thought for a moment.

“Maybe I can ask Lucas who this Vonda Raveena Scott really is. Hmm.”

Max rubbed his chin, trying to come up with an innocent reason to inquire about it with Lucas later. Just then, a strange ringtone caught his attention.

Max looked inside the clutch and found a phone ringing. It pushed him to take out the phone and see who was calling.

“Sarah Robbers?”

Max burst into uncontrollable laughter after reading the contact’s name.

“Oh, my goodness! What kind of girl did I sleep with?”

Max chuckled, trying to contain his laughter, and answered the call. As soon as he picked up the call, a girl’s voice immediately started bombarding him with various questions.

“Von? You’re still alive, right? Oh my God! I’ve been calling you for ages, and you didn’t pick up. I was almost going to call 911 to look for you. So, did you get back to your unit safely last night? By the way, did you do something to your taxi driver? You know, your department head is on the wanted list for premeditated murder. I thought his subordinates might also be involved in taxi driver killings.”

Max decided to speak up a little. “Ahem!”

“Eh?”

Max waited.

“Von? Why does your voice sound like a guy’s?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Um … Miss.”

“Oh my God! Who are you? Why do you have Vonda’s phone?”

“Please, Miss. Don’t panic. I haven’t done anything to Vonda. Just relax.”

A brief silence followed. Even though he knew it in his mind, Max said.

You’re really doing nothing to Vonda, huh?

Then the concerned voice was heard asking again, “Who are you? Where’s Vonda?”

Max furrowed his brow, thinking quickly. “Well … Vonda and I met last night.”

“Then?”

“It seems that this morning she rushed back, and her belongings got left in my car.”

“Her belongings got left?”

Max felt a cautious tone in the voice of the person he was talking to, which made him smile.

“Not only Vonda’s phone and clutch got left,” Max said, extending his hand to reach a pair of shoes. “Her shoes were also left behind.”

“Oh. Vonda often goes around without wearing footwear. She says it’s to prevent rheumatism.”

Max chuckled amusingly. He reached for another item. “And her gown was left behind too.”

“Oh. Vonda often wears someone else’s shirt when going home. Dresses sometimes make her uncomfortable.”

This time, Max took a deep breath before finishing his sentence, looking at the triangle-cut garment he lifted with his fingertips.

“And her fishnet panty was also left behind.”

“What?!”

*