11. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
M addie
I have my feet up on the coffee table and my hair in a loose bun. Cozy pajamas hug my skin and a cool breeze filters across my neck from the open window. I’m catching up with work I didn’t do earlier today because… well… I got carried away with my boss.
Warmth curls in my belly even as the memory of what we did aches between my thighs.
It’s the last time, right? No use dwelling on it. Except, that’s all I can think about. All I’ve been able to since the moment his fingers dug into my skin and he sunk himself deep inside me.
I lean back on the backrest, eyes closed, body tingling.
Maybe I can take a short break and fix the growing ache between my legs.
My phone rings.
Ugh, no . I like my daydreams about Chance better, so I ignore it.
It cuts and starts up again. Whoever it is must really want to talk. Sighing, I reach across the table and pick it up.
It’s Nat.
My horniness fades as I swipe to answer. “Hey.”
“Were you in a meeting? Is that why you didn’t take your call?”
“What? At ten p.m.?”
“What do I know? CEOs are popular for working their employees too hard.”
I say nothing. He did work me hard, but not in the way Nat means.
“Maddie?”
“Yeah. How’s everything with you?”
“Babes, I miss you. But tell me everything! How’s Magic Island and working with the super sexy Chance Easton?”
We sent texts back and forth over the past few days, but no talks yet.
I blush. “Um, it’s good.”
“Just good.” Her tone is suspicious. “Sounds like there’s more. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“What? No!” I’m high-pitched, but I can’t help it.
“Maddie…”
“Fine,” I sigh. “Something happened.”
There’s shuffling from Nat’s end. She’s most likely settling in to get the tea.
“Are you done?”
She laughs. “Almost. And… Now, I’m done. Tell me everything.”
“I slept with Chance.”
She gasps. “What?”
“Twice.”
“ What?! ”
“I messed up, I know. Between the girlfriend thing and this, things might get a little confusing.”
“Mads, I’d smack you upside the head if I were there.”
My shoulders fall. “I know. It’s getting to be a shit show right now. But we agreed that today was the last time and—”
“You will do no such thing!”
“What?”
Nat groans. “Maddie Lowe, what am I going to do with you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Um, you’re fucking a billionaire and meeting his family? What does that say about you and him?”
“Nat, we’re not an item. We were pretty clear on that. And I’m leaving in two weeks. And I don’t like him like that.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I mean it!”
“And I completely believe you.”
“Ugh, you’ll see. Enough about me, what’s going on with you?”
“Work, partying, the usual. Oh, and there’s more.”
My brows furrow. “More like?”
“I saw Todd. Twice.”
My heart doesn’t skip a beat or tremble. I have zero reaction to that information.
“And?”
“He asked how you’re doing.”
“Oh, did he? That’s cute.”
“He wonders when you’ll come back so you both can make up.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “Yeah, right. Like that would ever happen.”
“I told him the same. Guess he’s hoping for a miracle.”
“Never happening,” I say, feeling nothing at all.
“I’m a hundred percent with you on that. Especially now that you’re getting it from a hot billionaire.”
“I kinda regret telling you he’s rich,” I deadpan.
Nat keeps cheering. “Mads, honey, wouldn’t you rather be with a rich guy with a great family than… Todd.”
I chuckle. “I would rather, but that isn’t happening.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do. And you need to stop hinting at something more. I’m a fake girlfriend and we’ve done the deed twice only and we made a pact that we won’t anymore.”
Nat yawns. “Are you done?”
“Oh, so now I’m boring you?”
“Yes! Your pessimism is sleep-inducing.”
“Whatever. I’m speaking the truth though.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“I will.”
“Every morning.”
“I do.”
“That you like him and he likes you.”
“I do—No, wait! That’s not—”
Nat cackles. “You admitted it!”
“I hate you.”
“I love you.” She smacks kisses into the phone which makes me smile. “Got to go. We’ll talk soon, okay? So you can tell me about more sexy times between you and Mr. Easton. About all the times he touches you—”
“No, no! Bye, Nat.” I disconnect the call just as she goes into graphic detail.
Despite myself, I smile.
There’s no way this thing between Chance and I would live beyond my few weeks on the Island. Heck, he never even implied he wanted anything more.
Nat is crazy. And I’m not. So I’m keeping the boundaries clear and protecting my heart. Hell, when it comes to Chance, I have no heart.
There.
I push away the thoughts Nat planted in my head and focus on rounding up with work. It takes thirty minutes to wrap up.
I close my laptop and stretch, then rub at my eyes. If I’m to make it to work early, I need to be in bed ASAP.
Up on my feet, I make sure the doors are locked and I shut the window, then I head over to the bedroom where my fluffy bed awaits.
I curl up underneath the covers and wait for blissful sleep. It comes easily, taking away my consciousness and pulling me into a dreamlike state.
And then I hear it.
Something scratches against metal or… glass?
I roll over and tuck myself deeper, determined not to lose the threads of sleep weaving over me.
But the sound persists.
Then a crack.
My eyes split open. It’s dark and quiet in my room. Except for the creaky sound now. It cuts through the silence and arrows fear into my heart.
What if they’ve come for me?
That thought jerks me up and I scan the dark. I scramble sideways and slap a hand on the nightstand lamp. It illuminates the room in a warm glow that reveals I’m alone.
But I know what I heard.
Heart trembling, I climb off the bed and turn in a slow circle. “W-who’s there?”
No answer.
My eyes snag on the slightly open window. I inch toward it. A soft breeze tickles the hairs hanging down my cheeks.
Did I leave it open?
I don’t remember. I only remember shutting the window in the living room.
Swallowing, I push it open and lean out. There’s nothing to the night but the green garden and the trees. And a tree branch hanging so close to the window. That must be where the scratchy sound came from.
I pull the window back into place and slide the lock in place, then I pad over to my bed and climb in.
My eyes stay open for the next five minutes as I listen out for any suspicious sounds.
There are none.
Slowly, I put off the lamp and tuck myself in again. This time, sleep doesn’t come easily.
I’m working late on a Tuesday night.
It’s not because of the trouble I had sleeping the previous night or anything. I’ve since concluded that the noise at the window came from the tree branch and the wind, plus my overactive imagination.
I’m not scared of going home and being alone there.
Julia left two hours ago and since then, the office has grown quieter. I should leave too. I’ve already fixed the calendar five days ahead and cleaned up Chance’s notes. There’s nothing left to do.
Inhale, exhale. I can do this.
Nothing can hurt you, Maddie.
With that thought locked in place, I pack up my purse and head out. I’m walking past Chance’s office when I spy a light coming through the door.
Frowning, I head toward it. Did he forget to turn off the switch when he left?
I always leave before him so I don’t know what happens after.
I pause by the door, then push it open.
Chance is behind his desk, eyes glued on a document he’s holding before him. “Just an hour more, Freddy.”
That’s the night guard.
“It isn’t Freddy.”
Chance’s face comes up. “Oh.” His gaze sweeps over me. “What are you doing here?”
“I was heading home when I saw the light on in your office. I assumed you forgot to turn it off.”
He smirks. “I don’t. Why haven’t you gone home?”
He already has men protecting me. I don’t need him to get worried about every creak and rattle that startles me. Plus, it was nothing .
“Just working.” I shrug. “What are you doing?”
“Working, too.”
“On what at this time of the night?” I glance at my watch. “Eight-thirty!”
“I could ask you the same.”
I eye him, inching into his office. The door clips shut behind me as I draw close to his desk.
I don’t miss the way his eyes follow my movements. Watching, assessing. Almost like a predator onto a prey.
And why does that thought leave a delicious tingle down my spine?
I stop before his desk and focus on the papers covering the expansive surface. “What are these?”
“Progress reports dating back many years.”
“’20s?” I frown at the brown piece of paper. “Why would you need this?”
“We learn from the past to fix the present, don’t we?”
“Huh. So what are you learning?” I round the desk to take a peek at the notes he's making.
His handwriting is messy but familiar. I don’t pay too much attention, though, as I focus on the notes he’s taking.
“‘Cutting employees reduced productivity and affected income generation’.” I run a finger down the page, reading more of the notes. By the time I’m done, I turn to see Chance watching me carefully.
His dark brown hair is mussed from a long work day and his eyes are lined. Even so, he looks so good my heart quickens.
I drop my gaze and my eyes snag on the undone buttons on his chest, showcasing smooth tan skin. Then lower to his rolled-up sleeves and corded forearms.
I swallow. “These are… interesting.” My voice is squeaky! Why is it squeaky?
If my boss notices, he doesn’t draw attention to it.
“They are. It’s the trends that matter. The highs and lows of the Island’s businesses, the growth of its population, or the downturn of the same is traceable to policies my grandfather and father put in place.
” He sighs and leans back, looking at the spread of papers.
“I want to learn from them and make Magic Island the best it can be in my time.”
My brows furrow as I watch him. I can’t imagine what it means to be tasked with looking over a company, much less be the deciding voice in what happens on a whole Island.
“You’re doing great.”
He chuckles and looks up at me, his eyes vulnerable. “Am I?”
I squeeze my hand into a fist, resisting the urge to run my fingers through his hair.
“You are. It’s quite obvious your family is proud of you.” He’s still doubtful, so I press on. “My parents are the opposite. My dad would ask me why I’m not doing more and my mom would be overly concerned that I’m doing anything at all.”
He smiles, one of the very few I’ve ever seen. “I don’t know what my mom would think.”
Since he brought it up… “Why’s that?”
His eyes refocus and his smile drops. “Why’s what?”
“You mentioned your mom? So I’m wondering why you won’t know what she thinks.”
A frown lines his forehead and he sits up. “I should get back to work.”
He starts fiddling with the papers, his jaw set in a firm line.
What just happened?
“Oh, I…”
“You should go home.” His tone is firm, all the warmth from earlier gone. “We have an early start tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I’m at the door when I look back. He’s as I found him, only this time, his face looks troubled.
I close the door on my way out.
I stand outside the building waiting for a cab but seconds later, a car I recognize stops before me.
The window rolls down and Ralph leans out. “The boss asked me to drop you off.”
I glare up at his lighted window. After dismissing me so rudely! I get into the car. Even annoyed, I’m still aware that I’m being followed and this is the safest way home.