THIRD PERSON 

"AUGHHUGHHH AUGHUGH AUGHUH" Max's weird, muffled sounds echoed through the lovely estate.

He's having a nightmare. Maybe it's because someone in particular is currently cursing him. It is, indeed.

"What the heck was that?" he grunted.

Max's staying at the MacGregor Estate. After being scammed by a nasty trickster, like a puppy returning to its parents after being robbed of a bone, the young master needed a big, comfy hug from his parents to assure him that a hundred thousand dollars is nothing. The reunion of the three is more welcoming and touching than he had expected. They showered him with money, spoiled him with a new sports car, and gave him everything he wanted.

"That was the weirdest dream ever."

Maximus's voice echoed through the room, startling his black cat, Leon, who had been blissfully napping on the pillow. With a soft, annoyed "Purrr~," Leon cracked one eye open, clearly unimpressed by the sudden noise.

"Ohhh, my cute Leon! It's not you. You're the most adorable cat ever," Maximus reassured, reaching down to pat the feline gently. "You're not the one in my dreams." Leon settled back into a comfortable position, seemingly uninterested in the antics of his human.

He recalled the bizarre details of his dream. In it, a giant black cat-similar in appearance to Leon, but significantly larger-towered over him with gleaming fangs sharp enough to cut steel. The surreal scene unfolded in a dimly lit room filled with prisoners, where Maximus found himself seated at a mahjong table, playing against them as if it were the Olympic fin He had never been the competitive type, but something about the stakes made this dream utterly ridiculous.

Every time one of the bald prisoners lost, Maximus erupted into manic laughter, as if he had just unearthed the secret to happiness in Baldy's defeat. But the real showstopper was his newfound obsession with flicking Baldy's shiny forehead. WHACK!- a fresh red mark blossomed on the poor prisoner's head, and Maximus would lean back with satisfaction, admiring his work like an artist critiquing a masterpiece. Baldy kept shouting in protest, trying to salvage whatever dignity he had left, but Maximus was undeterred. The laughter only escalated as he delighted in the simple joy of flicking Baldy's forehead again and again.

Even the giant cat, originally intended to intimidate Maximus, seemed bewildered by the scene unfolding before it. It looked down at Maximus, as if pondering, "Is this really happening?" The absurdity of the situation was not lost on Maximus. How had he gotten here? 

Who would dream of something so silly and random as playing mahjong with inmates? The imagery was both hilarious and perplexing, leaving him to wonder how his mind could concoct such a chaotic blend of elements. Did he even know how to play Mahjong? The thought flitted through his mind like a playful butterfly. Was this his darkest hidden dream-an intense desire to bond with the most unconventional company imaginable?

As he sat up in bed, the remnants of the dream clung to him like fog. The best solution to erase the bizarre visuals swirling in his head seemed to be playing some calming songs. A little soothing music might just do the trick, washing away the echoes of Baldy's yelps and the giant cat's bemusement. 

After all, it was just a dream-albeit a weird one. But somehow, it conjured the image of Mr. Maximus Evander MacGregor was a friendly giant, so amiable that he even dreamed of sharing a mahjong table with inmates. Who could blame him for wanting to connect with everyone, even in the depths of his imagination? 

MAX

"Old Zheng! YOOOoOOHOOooOO!" I called out, trying to catch my assistant's attention by snapping my fingers like a contestant on some reality show. 

"Impolite. Irrelevant. Foul-mouthed." Old Zheng circled me like a hawk, adjusting his round glasses while scrutinizing my every move, as if he were judging my entire existence. Seriously, who needs a hawk when you've got a grumpy old man with a clipboard?

Two weeks had passed since we first met, and my initial impression of him was fab-he seemed like the perfect fit to be my assistant. He was nice, approachable, and not overly strict or professional, or so I thought. But boy, was I mistaken. This geezer was the worst!

I've learned my lesson: I'll never trust old geezers again! The first time I got burned was when I was tricked into signing a contract because I was so moved by old Baleras's heartbreaking story. I signed it without a second thought, and now I'm regretting it. And now there's old Zheng, here to ruin my life. Their facade is flawless, and my soft spot for older people has officially been tainted. Cue the dramatic internal crying!

"A heir that has countless dating scandals, fussy, picky, and even lazy. You embody every negative trait you can imagine," he declared, glaring at me with an intensity that made me feel like I was being scolded by my mom after a report card full of C's. I could practically hear his disappointment echoing in my ears.

Even if I wanted to defend myself, I couldn't find the right words to counter his claims. His intimidating gaze seemed to say, "Don't argue. Just accept what I say, your pitiful excuse for an heir." 

Dad really wants me to learn how to handle business! Sorry, Father, but on my very first day of work, I already feel like I'm in trouble. Why did you have to give me such a strict assistant? I could almost hear my inner voice sobbing dramatically. 

"Let's get your manners fixed, alright?" His tone suddenly shifted from professional to overly sweet, almost like baby talk. What was this, a role reversal? One moment, he's glaring at me like I just kicked a puppy, and the next, he's acting like my doting grandmother. Now, I'm left completely unsure of what to believe.

I nodded, gulping hard as I prepared myself for whatever torture lay ahead. This is going to be a rough ride, so I'd better brace myself, Maximus Prime. 

JUST KIDDING!!! 

Why should I worry? A prince is a prince, after all. Everything he does is always right, and so am I because I am the prince! 

MWEHEHEHEHEHEHE!

*cough cough cough* 

With that laugh, I tried to shake off the tension. I mean, come on, what could possibly go wrong? I was born to be in charge, to be the centre of attention, and to live a life of luxury and debauchery, right? Surely, this would all just be a minor speed bump in my glorious journey toward ultimate power and charm. After all, how hard could it be to manage a few workers and sign some papers? I'd just let Old Zheng handle the boring stuff while I focused on being fabulous.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself that deep down, I had it all figured out. Sure, Old Zheng could be a bit of a pain, but I was determined to prove that I could handle this. I mean, what could he possibly teach me about being a ruler? I am Maximus, the heir to the MacGregor fortune! 

"Okay, let's do this," I mumbled to myself, squaring my shoulders and forcing a confident smile. "Time to show old Zheng that I can play the role of a serious businessman. Just remember, Max-be good, be bright, and above all, never lose yourself!"