Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
I saw her.
She was pissing me the fuck off by being outside in the freezing temperatures in only a pair of underwear. Wait a fucking second? I walked over to the large window in the office where I was last night with Enzo.
I attempted to steer my father's anger toward me, hoping to divert his attention from the infuriating scene outside. He continued berating me for getting married, making my day unfold in ways I had never imagined.
Speaking of Enzo, where the fuck was he? I purposefully tasked him to oversee her door so none of this would happen. I needed her protected and away from my dad as he scolded me, insult after insult.
I let my dad berate me, absorbing his shouts and criticisms. I knew he’d seen the news the moment it broke this morning in the papers. It was amazing how quickly the media picked up on the town's most influential family's son getting married. Thankfully, I was able to confine it to only a small local paper, wiping all evidence of any articles online so the Irish weren't able to get word.
"I can't believe you went ahead and got yourself married without consulting me, Walsh. What were you thinking?" His face reddened with anger. His dark hair falling out of his perfectly gelled style.
"Things changed," I retorted, trying to keep up the facade of a heated argument while Madison continued her impromptu performance outside.
Yet the longer he chided me, the more I could keep him from witnessing Madison's act outside. I hadn't anticipated her to be wearing an ex-boyfriend's sweatshirt and, to my dismay, stepping into the hot tub for an apparent show.
My gaze was frozen on my beautiful wife as she dipped into the water. Someone was going to get fired today.
"Well, this is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into. Explain yourself," my father demanded, bringing my attention back into the room.
"I've got my reasons, Dad. I'm not asking for your approval," I replied, stealing glances at Madison, who seemed to be reveling in the discomfort she was causing.
"You're making a mockery of this family. Do you even care about the consequences?" He continued, his voice reaching a crescendo.
"I have a plan," I stated.
"They are all going to find out. It was everywhere. The news spreads fast, especially amongst the wives. And your sister?—"
"Ember knows?"
I thought she was out in the countryside, and they suck at getting Wi-Fi most of the time.
I sighed, inwardly frustrated by the distraction Madison was causing. "Look, we can argue about this all day, but I've made my decision."
As my dad continued to vent his disapproval, I desperately wished for the confrontation to be over so I could address the Madison-shaped disruption unfolding outside.
Oh, good. She was lowering herself into the hot tub, the water covering her just enough so the whirls of the jets were right under her tits, bouncing them in the water. She was absolute perfection, and she was mine.
My gaze lingered longer than intended, fixated on her form. She was my Achilles' heel, the disruptor of my well-laid plans. Despite the growing realization that I should tear my eyes away, I found myself unable to do so. She had a knack for dismantling every strategic move I made.
Amidst my distraction, my father, sensing my detachment, rose from his seat to join me. The impulse to flee crossed my mind, a fleeting thought of evading the impending confrontation. Yet I knew the inevitable was approaching, an encounter I couldn't indefinitely dodge.
"She knew exactly what she was doing," I muttered under my breath, a low murmur directed at the woman who had ensnared my attention.
"This must be her…"
"Don’t," I pleaded, trying to spare myself of the scrutiny that would inevitably follow.
"Walsh Ersilio Solis," he scolded, adopting the stern tone of both a leader and a father.
I closed my eyes momentarily, pivoting to face the forthcoming admonishment. "I am saying this not as your leader but as your father."
Bracing myself, I awaited the reprimand about to unfold. "She really hurt your sister. Ember is going to be so upset if she finds out about this."
A deep sigh escaped me. "I know."
The situation loomed, and I had yet to devise a plan to navigate the complexities it entailed. "Please don’t tell her. Let me come up with a way to tell her."
"Son, if she's your wife, she will be around, especially with the family. You know your sister will be involved."
Once more, I confronted the reality of my neglect, a stark acknowledgment of the consequences I had chosen to disregard.
My father's words cut through the tension, his voice carrying the weight of paternal concern. "Walsh"—his tone a mix of disappointment and firmness—"if I've taught you anything, it's that family should always come first."
I let out an exasperated sigh, my annoyance bubbling to the surface. "I know, Dad," I replied, the strain evident in my voice. The delicate dance between family loyalty and the unraveling circumstances with her proved more challenging than I had anticipated.
He placed a firm hand on my shoulder, his gaze searching mine. "Your sister is going to be hurt if she finds out about this on her own. It's best to be honest and face the consequences as a family. I’ll set up an introductory dinner with the whole family. You both will need to attend, and I'll push it out a week from now. You need to tell Ember before the dinner. Do not blindside her."
"I'll handle it," I asserted, my mind already calculating the best approach to mitigate the fallout. However, out of the corner of my eye, distraction arrived in the form of Madison emerging from the hot tub.
She moved with a sensual grace, water droplets clinging to her skin, amplifying the allure of her figure. Her fiery red hair, now tousled from the water, framed a face that held a mix of defiance and intrigue. Green eyes, vibrant and unyielding, met mine as she wrapped a towel around her waist.
Caught between familial responsibilities and the magnetic pull she effortlessly exerted, I found myself momentarily speechless. My father sensing my unease seemed to break the tension by clapping me on the back.
"Well, let me go out and meet your new bride." He practically pushed me aside, and before I could contest, he was already out of the office and down the hallway opening the large door that led to the yard.
"Father," I called after him, my voice alerting Madison he was coming, and she looked up from where she was toweling off.
She glanced at my father who was practically barreling toward her, then back at me. When she saw the hesitant look I knew was written all over my face, she dropped her towel and sauntered toward my father in only her bikini. I peered in closer. No. She was in her fucking bra.
"Hi Mr. Solis. It’s so nice to?—"
"Enough." He didn't bother shaking the hand that she’d extended for him. "I know who you are."
I waited to spot an ounce of hesitation on her face, and nothing.
"Before you interrupted me, I was going to let you know it is so nice to see you again."
I paused. My dad paused. You could hear the water dripping from her hair as she leaned down to grab the towel, then wrapped it around her chest.
The audacity. Madison Ryan—er, Solis—just called out her father-in-law, one of the most powerful men in the entire community, if not the entire country. With one snap of his finger, her neck could be broken.
There was quite a long pause before a smile cracked on my father’s face. He turned to me. "I can see the allure."
I slid up next to her, wrapped my hands around her waist, and pulled her into my side.
She stared in my direction, and for my father’s sake, and admittedly maybe for my own curiosity, I looked into her eyes. A slight nod of appreciation for not pulling away was the only thing I gave her before we turned our attention back to my father.
"Madison, you must be so cold. We should go inside and warm up," I offered, then gestured inside, leading us back. My hand dropped down to Madison’s, and she interlocked our fingers as her other hand held her towel.
The gesture made my heart, the piece that twitched when I first met her, tug again. It was the first time we’d ever been romantic with each other, but we were playing a role. Although I wanted to strip her naked and slap her pretty pussy until she begged for my cock to fill her up for being a brat, I opted for the charade of a devoted husband—for now.
My dad barged into the scene, cutting through my illicit thoughts. I discreetly adjusted myself, and Madison, the wicked enchantress, gazed up at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes, well aware of the predicament she stirred.
"I hear you'll be joining us for the holiday dinner," my father declared, unknowingly breaking the tension. My mind raced, but Madison, ever the master of her alternate persona, responded coolly, concealing the turmoil within.
"Really?" she chimed in, her voice carrying an air of nonchalance, her second-skin persona firmly in place. To others, she exuded calm, but I, the unwelcome spectator to her internal tempest, knew better.
"Yes. You'll attend the holiday party, and we'll announce your marriage. After that, my son here will have to address his 'problem' with the Irish before they lose their minds," my father explained, laying out the agenda.
"And who gets to claim the leadership role in the family?" Madison asked, tilting her head and crossing her arms. The world halted around us. With the exception of Ember, no woman had ever dared to question the established roles within our traditional family structure.
Was it steeped in sexism? Undoubtedly. Did I believe women should have a more prominent voice? Absolutely. But try explaining that to my old ass uncle, who was staunchly convinced a woman's role was limited to the kitchen.
My father stood frozen, offering no immediate response. I held my breath, praying that Madison's bold inquiry wouldn't land me in hot water.
My father's calm cracked ever so slightly as he replied, "We'll see how this unfolds with the Irish. This is not exactly what I anticipated. I will also have to talk to my daughter about this." His measured words hinted at the unexpected turn of events, leaving an air of uncertainty in the room.
My dad was pissed at me and was trying his hardest to remain calm. The Irish would be beyond pissed, and it would risk the relationship with us and them. I needed to talk to my promised bride’s family to apologize.
"But he is going to wait until I speak with her and Rain first. Right…Father?"
He nodded slowly.
"But Madison, you need to understand that I will not allow anyone to come between my family and that includes the relationship my children have worked very hard to keep."
"I understand." My muse shifted on her feet. Moments ago, out in the hot tub, she seemed so confident striding around, but she was slipping again, exposing her raw self.
I walked over to the large brown leather sofa where a cream blanket hung and draped it over her shoulder. The only thanks she gave me was a silent one when our eyes danced with each other. She was still upset, that was very clear, but I was grateful she was playing along, at least temporarily.
The tension hung thick as my father headed toward the door, after leaving us with a lingering decree. "You have one week. After that, the holiday dinner will proceed—with the entire extended family. It's time they meet the newest member."
With Madison standing in the living room, he whispered, "Tell Ember."
"I will." I nodded, closing my eyes.
"This isn’t the type of decision you would normally make, Walsh. You are very calculated and thoughtful. I hope you know what you’re doing." He slammed the door behind him. The echo of the closing door reverberated in the silence, and I seethed in the aftermath. The gravel crunched under his departing footsteps, and all I wanted was to unleash my frustration, to scream and shatter something.
He was infuriatingly right. The truth grated on me like nails on a chalkboard, tearing through my usual rationality and forcing me to confront the unsettling realm of emotions. Rage consumed me as I turned back toward the living room. I directed my anger inward, furious at myself for allowing sentiment to cloud my judgment. My wife stood there watching from the living room, seething with her own discontent, oblivious to the lengths I had gone to to secure a life for her.
I had meticulously crafted a world for her, waited until the opportune moment, yet impatience got the better of me. I brought her here, married her, committed to sharing every day on this wretched planet with her. And still, she remained obstinately blind to my intentions, or perhaps I failed miserably in demonstrating the depth of my care.
Each step I took toward her felt like stomping on the embers of my emotions, anger surging through my veins. My father's words hung heavy, the promise of leadership slipping through my fingers. The physical weight of the realization pressed upon me. By the time I reached the living room, adrenaline and hatred coursed through me.
Madison turned, her eyes a mix of determination and challenge. If she wanted to engage in this battle again, I would come out victorious. The countdown to the impending family gathering had started, and the stage was set for a clash of secrets and revelations that would redefine the trajectory of our narrative. A story that I molded for her…but she just couldn’t see it yet.
So I would make her.