Chapter 26
Trying to block out Manhattan”s morning chaos streaming outside the towering office windows, I close my eyes, rubbing my neck, still stiff from sleeping in the hospital bedside chair.
Maddie’s sisters went home late on Saturday afternoon to rest, but I stubbornly stayed behind, refusing to leave her side. We didn”t talk much. Our conversation was stilted over rounds of Uno. We both avoided mentioning Preston or the shaky ground of our relationship.
The beeping monitors and nurses checking her vitals filled the silence between us. Soon after dinner, exhaustion seemed to take over, and Maddie fell into a deep sleep. I kept guard, reading on my phone, responding to work emails, and absently scrolling through Maddie”s TikTok account, watching her signature dance videos on loop.
She was just shy of a hundred thousand followers, the goal she said she was pursuing back in the summer, what now seemed like ages ago. No surprises there. Maddie does catch the eye, making it impossible to look away.
Looking at the phone on her side table, I made a snap decision. Realizing that I had no right doing this without her knowledge, I still grabbed it, held it in front of her sleeping face, and with a few taps, shared her location with my phone.
As unethical as that was, at least I would always know where she is.
At some point during the night, I nodded off, woken by sunrays dancing on my face. Color had returned to her cheeks in the morning, and she was cleared to go home.
Her sisters arrived around ten, toting an overnight bag and a clipboard with discharge instructions. Before long, they were shuffling out, flanking Maddie protectively toward a taxi as I reluctantly trailed behind them.
“We”ll take good care of our girl from here,” Grace assured me, squeezing my forearm.
I watched them as they slid across the cracked leather seat of the taxi, Grace already leaning in to give the driver directions. Before folding her tall frame to follow her sisters, Maddie unexpectedly turned in the open door, eyes capturing mine.
My heart tripped as she shrugged off her bag and closed the small space between us in two brisk steps. Standing scant inches away on the busy curb, she slid the diamond off her finger.
“I know it was just pretend, but . . . it felt real at times,” she murmured and pressed the band firmly into my frozen palm, then softly brushed my lips with hers. Her feather-light caress seared through me. She turned gracefully, the waiting car swallowing her without a backward glance.
I nodded mutely, facing the fact that I screwed up royally with my constant hot and cold treatment, her overhearing my argument with my father, to her now being attacked by the son of a prospective business partner.
A big heap of a mess, that’s what this relationship has turned out to be. Giving her some distance is the right thing to do.
Sharp raps followed by heavy footsteps jolt me out of the memory, announcing Walt as he barges into my office. Predictably, his first words lambaste me before the door even finishes swinging shut.
“Explain what the hell happened at that event. Why did Maddie agree to accompany Preston to the back rooms?”
“Walsh’s psychotic spawn slipped a roofie into her drink, that’s why,” I spit angrily.
“And why is your fiancé prancing around the internet half-dressed in the first place?” Walt retorts hotly.
I level an incredulous glare upward, my words spewing fire. “Are you actually suggesting this is somehow her fault?”
Walt crosses his arms, tone biting. “Well, can you blame the boy for getting ideas?”
I sit upright, glaring at him dangerously. “You did not just imply she brought this on herself.”
Scoffing, Walt continues his tirade. “Please! Modern girls relish playing the temptation card, and then acting shocked. What did she expect? Of course, men will drool over her!”
A savage roar rips from my chest. “The only one at fault here is your associate”s depraved son!”
Face purpling, Walt plops himself into the chair. He takes a deep breath before getting to his point. “Be that as it may, it’s done now. I trust you handled the aftermath? We don’t want any bad press because of something like this.”
My fist slams down, rattling my keyboard violently. “I handled it, alright. As if it isn’t enough that Preston attacked Maddie, Walsh dared come to the hospital and threaten her. The girl was drugged and attacked during their event! And you”re concerned about the firm? Or about the publicity?” I bite out, disgust welling in my gut.
Oblivious, Walt checks his watch. “So, to minimize attention on this unpleasantness, I say we quietly sign Walsh”s contract this afternoon. Business as usual. There’s no point dwelling on Preston.”
I slowly rise to my feet, muscles coiled tightly at my sides. “Walsh can take that contract and shove it up his ass. We”re signing Hanes Robotics, and we are not looking back.”
Walt pounds the desk angrily. “Walsh Dynamics remains the optimal choice regardless of what went down. You”re letting emotion muddy sound business sense! How dare you jeopardize my empire over some misplaced millennial nonsense!” he bellows. “You always were too weak-willed for business.”
I cross my arms stubbornly, the decision I should have made weeks ago now clear as day. “I don’t want to partner with them. Hanes Robotics shares our values and still brings innovation to the table. Walsh is full of entitlement, and to be frank, it repulses me.”
“Innovation is pointless without distribution reach!” Walt retorts. “I won”t stand by watching you gamble away our hard-won market dominance over something like this. You intervened, Maddie is fine, now move on.”
I meet my father”s scowling face head-on. “You assume this is only about Preston”s attack. But it’s so much more than that.” I start pacing the floor, fists balled. “That little prick will pay for it, I’ll make sure of it.” I stop and stare at him. “It’s the entitlement of that family that revolts me more than anything.”
He stays silent as I continue venting.
“Roger assumes every room is his. Like the way he showed up in St. Maarten, without batting an eyelash. He takes what he wants, other people be damned. Remind you of anyone?” I cut my eyes meaningfully at Walt.
He scowls but remains silent. “Preston got that same self-importance from his daddy. He felt he could just take whatever caught his fantasy, no matter if it hurt another human in the process. Yes, Maddie is desirable and any man in his right mind would want her. But that doesn”t mean that they have the right to her.”
I slow my frenzied steps, a firm resolve steeling my tone. “So, mock me as naive, Father, but I won”t do business with them. I was leaning toward Hanes from the get-go anyway, and this has now sealed the deal for me.”
Walt rises from his chair, his face thunderous. “I slaved decades to grow this empire. Like hell, will I let you tank us over this gobbledygook! I”m seizing back control of this company right now.”
We stand locked in a blistering standoff, Walt apoplectic at my defiance and me unbudging.
“There’s another thing you should know.” I say calmly, examining his red face. There’s no point in keeping up the charade any longer. “There’ll be no wedding and no grandkids. Well, not anytime soon. And not with Maddie. We broke up.”
Jaw set, I hold my ground as he scoffs and turns around to leave. I go back behind my desk, unintimidated.
“And it’s good you’re taking back control, Father. My advice is to look for another lapdog willing to dance to your tune. Because I’m taking my software and going it on my own.”