Chapter 19 Beck
Beck
What the fuck is he doing right now?
Adrian’s voice isn’t just loud, it’s also condescending as hell. I hear it even before I round the corner toward my office, and it sets my teeth on edge. But the tone isn’t even the worst part.
The worst part is that he’s got Maddy pinned like he’s about to physically destroy her, her back resting against the glass of his office. He lords above her; eyes razor sharp.
Without even knowing what it is she did, I know this is overkill.
“You can’t just skim these reports, Madison.” Adrian’s tone is cruel, demeaning, and almost mocking. “If you had even glanced at the appendices, you’d know the population metrics are outdated by six months. I don’t want to hear excuses. Fix it, Maddy.”
She stands there, one foot twisting like she’s trying to bore through the floor and escape. “Yes, Mr. Frank,” she says, her face a flushed mess. But I’m almost positive it’s not the same kind of flushed Adrian made it a few days ago.
For some reason, the thought of him railing Maddy only serves to intrigue me. Maybe even turn me on.
But damn, he’s still working through it.
“I need this done. Pronto,” he sneers. Adrian doesn’t even notice her flinch. Or maybe he does, and that’s the point?
Either way, that’s the last straw for me.
“What’re you guys up to?” I time it perfectly, so I appear to just be passing by, trying to appear calm even though I’d love to deck Adrian right now.
“Discussing something that needs to be adjusted,” Adrian snaps, taking a step back from her. He turns and gives me a fuck off look so intense it could probably win awards of some sort.
Maddy’s left in his wake, shoulders slumped and defeated, as she sighs. She looks like she’s on the verge of breaking down, and I cannot stand that sight.
And fuck Adrian for making her feel that way.
I walk right up to her, catch her gaze, and ignore Adrian. “Hey, wanna ditch the rest of the day and get lunch? My treat. You can fix those docs for Adrian tomorrow. That meeting isn’t until next week.”
She blinks at me, glances to Adrian, who I’m sure is fuming, and then back to me. “Are you sure right now is a good time?” Her voice comes out barely audible, wavering as if she’s about to cry.
“Sure, why not?” I flash a grin, reaching out gently to take the papers from her hand.
“I’ll take care of these for you, and I can double-check the information with just a few phone calls later.
Isn’t that right?” I turn to Adrian, who is a couple of feet from me, and looking like the definition of rage.
He glares at me. “If you want to.”
I meet his stare and do that thing where you smile so big it almost looks like you’re baring your teeth. He continues to look like he might combust and heads for his office, probably to send me a nasty email.
It’s so much fun being partners with him. I never know what I’m going to get. But I do know he’ll get over it. Eventually.
I turn back to Maddy, who is now wearing a look somewhere between confusion and relief, and gesture toward the elevator. “You need to get anything before we go? It’s already almost two, and I know you must be starving.”
“Kind of,” she nearly whispers, not answering my question. She dips away from me and heads toward her desk. I don’t miss the way she keeps glancing over her shoulder, as if expecting Adrian to materialize behind her and take away her lunch privileges or something.
She doesn’t realize that I own just as much of this company as he does, apparently. But that’s fine.
Maddy grabs her purse and her cardigan, sliding her arms into it. Her brunette hair is falling out of the clip that holds it, and honestly, she’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
But fuck, when she turns, she looks unhappy, her plump lips turned down and her eyes tired.
I gotta make this better for her.
I extend my arm to her as she joins me. “My lady?”
She eyes it, then glances around the office. “Um…”
“Maddy, it’s okay to take my arm,” I reassure her, keeping a smile on my face.
“Okay, sorry,” she breathes out, resting her hand on my bicep.
The elevator is empty. We get in, and for a moment, there’s just the hush of the hydraulics and the faint hum of background music. She clings to my arm, but her eyes are everywhere but on me.
“So,” I cut into the silence, “you like Italian, right?”
Her head snaps up. “How did you know?”
I chuckle, feeling an unbidden heat rise up my neck. “I pay attention to you. Also, you clicked through the Giovanni’s GrubHub menu for fifteen minutes straight yesterday. That’s some impressive commitment to indecision, and I’m pretty sure you never even ordered anything.”
She laughs, a tiny snort, and the tension in her jaw unclenches ever so slightly. “You saw that?”
“Baby, I see everything.” I wink and then squeeze her hand between my arm and body. “Fun fact, I used to be a busboy at Giovanni’s when I was a teenager. The owner still gives me free breadsticks if I promise not to tell people he was on season four of Cops.”
She laughs again, and this time, she tips her head back to look up at me. “Oh my god. You’re ridiculous.”
I put a hand over my heart. “Finally, recognition.”
She keeps giggling, and I completely take that as a win.
When we hit the lobby, I guide her through the glass doors and out onto the street. Outside, it’s mid-70s, and the sunlight illuminates Maddy’s skin. I catch myself counting the cute little freckles that dot the side of her face, completely taken by her.
Maddy Williams is by far the most eye-catching woman I’ve ever met. And that’s saying something. I’ve met—and fucked—a lot of women.
“Is it okay that you… touch me at work?” Maddy asks the question without looking at me, keeping her eyes focused on the crowd ahead of us.
I drop her arm and then wrap my arm around her waist, lean in, and plant a kiss on the top of her head. “I own the company, Maddy. I can do whatever I want. You’re not some secret I have to keep.”
She makes some sort of incoherent noise, and then stays silent for the rest of the walk to the restaurant.
I hold the door for her, and as soon as we step inside the Italian Bistro, the old hostess gives me a once-over, then beams. “Beck! You back to terrorize my staff?”
I bow low, but smirk. “Madame, you wound me.”
The older woman, whom I happen to know is the part owner, laughs, then eyes Maddy with pure maternal curiosity. “Is this a girlfriend?”
Maddy’s cheeks flame. “We’re just… he’s my boss,” she stammers, but the hostess just winks at me and ushers us to a two-top in the back.
Once we’re seated, we order two iced teas, a Caesar salad to split, and my favorite pasta—lemon ricotta ravioli, hold the garlic.
Maddy settles in across from me, and once again, she appears to be looking everywhere but me.
“Are you okay?” I ask the question as lightly as possible. I don’t want to make her feel cornered like Adrian did today.
There’s a long pause as the waitress sets down our drinks. Maddy stirs her tea and then sighs, finally peering up at me. “Why did you ask me out to lunch?”
I lean back and let my eyes go deliberately wide in the most playful way. “Ouch. ‘Ask you out’ makes it sound like it’s just a date. This, Miss Williams, is an intervention. You looked like you needed the world’s best carbs and, let’s be honest, a break from getting eviscerated by Adrian.”
She doesn’t answer right away, nor does she come close to smiling at my pathetic joke. Instead, she just stares at her drink, her lips turned down. “He hates me now.”
I hear the hurt in her voice, and it hits me.
Oh fuck. She likes him. She might be the first woman ever, too.
I swallow hard, pushing down my ego along with my surprise. “He doesn’t hate you, Maddy.” I pause, as her eyes lift. “He just hates the fact that he lost control. He probably hates the fact that he likes you so much, and he hates that I like you, too. But he likes you. A lot.”
This catches her off guard. She sips her tea, thinking it over. “You really think so? Because he’s been nothing but mean to me ever since.”
“Absolutely, he likes you, and absolutely, he will continue to be mean while he works his way through it.” I drum my fingers on the table.
“But if he didn’t respect you as much as he does, he’d have fired you, or maybe had you moved to a different department, since it’s more complicated than that. But nope, he’s keeping you.”
She mulls that over, lips pressed tight.
“And, for what it’s worth, you handled yourself like a champ,” I continue, seeing her expression soften. “If he ever talks to you like that again, just picture him naked and aging rapidly.”
Maddy coughs, nearly choking on her tea. “What is wrong with you?” But she’s smiling now. “Seriously, you’re so weird.”
I shrug, my heart skipping a beat at the twinkle in her beautiful eyes. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. I think it just keeps things exciting.”
The salad arrives, and we both attack it like we haven’t eaten in weeks. Between bites, she relaxes enough to ask, “So… you’re not worried about… anything? Me being with both of you?”
I shrug, finding it adorable that she’s struggling with her words. “No. I think you should be with someone who makes you happy. I’m not really the jealous type. I’ve never shared a woman, but… I’m not against the idea.” It turns me on.
But I leave that part out.
“Hmm,” she forks up more of the salad and shoves it in her mouth.
“You’re not going to get grief about it from me,” I say, leaning back in my seat. “It won’t affect work, unless it does for you.”
Maddy’s expression is unreadable. “I don’t know.”
“Okay, then you take the time you need to think about it.” I push away the little dose of disappointment that comes with that. “I’m never going to be the kind of guy that pushes your boundaries.”
“What made you so nice?” she asks, and for a minute, I consider opening up about the heartbreak I experienced and overcame with my first and only serious girlfriend.
But I opt to keep that one close to the vest.
“I guess I’ve just learned it’s easier to be easy-going. I like people to be happy.” I clear my throat as the rest of our lunch is set on the table, and we spend the next thirty minutes digging in, talking only about the restaurant, rather than the weird situationship we’re suddenly in.
On the walk back, I don’t hold her hand like I want to, clearly noticing that she’s putting some distance between us. It makes me wonder. Maybe she likes Adrian more?
Ouch. That thought hurts. And even more of a reason to be cautious.
We slow down as we reach the office building, and she turns to me. “Thank you,” Maddy breathes out. “For the food. And for the rescue. I probably owe you now.”
“Just pay it forward,” I chuckle, choosing to play it safe and not tell her I just want another night in the hot tub. “Next time you see someone getting chewed out, slip them a shot of whiskey in their coffee or something.”
She laughs, and I feel a weird ache in my chest. When she looks away to tuck her hair behind her ear, I want to do it for her. I just want to fucking touch her.
Damn, why is she so magnetic? It’s not even surprising that Adrian is so into her, too.
I open the lobby door for Maddy, and she does a little curtsy, then punches the elevator button. I laugh, but my chest is actually kind of aching at this whole situation, and the fact that I can’t tell what Maddy wants.
The ride up to our floor is quiet. Not awkward, just… thick with stuff unsaid. We stand a little too close. I can feel the heat off her arm, and if I moved even an inch, my hand would brush hers.
I should just ask her how she feels about me.
And I almost do it. I even turn to her, my lips parting, but then I stop myself. Instead, I stuff my hands in my pockets, roll my shoulders, and say, “Well, back to the grind.”
Maddy gives me a look—a long, evaluating one—and I can’t tell if she’s about to kiss me or punch me. “See you later,” she says, and when the elevator dings, she’s already halfway down the hall before the door slides all the way open.
I watch her go. And I realize, with a little jolt, that I’m not fucking playing around anymore.
I want her.
But wanting means giving a shit. And giving a shit means you’re gonna get wrecked every time.
Still… I don’t know if I can slow this down.
As I make my way back to my office, Adrian’s in his, bent over his laptop. He glances up as I walk by, eyes narrowed and jaw set with anger. I salute him, grinning.
He looks away.
When I reach my own computer, there’s an email from him in my inbox, and I cock a brow at the subject line.
Policy Reminder about Time Management.
“I knew it.” I laugh out loud and then delete it without bothering to read it.
He’ll definitely come around. Eventually. Though what that means for all of us, I’m not sure.