Chapter 13.4
I ended up back at the table, next to Grumps. Awkward silences were starting to grow on me. They weren’t that bad, and it allowed me a chance to think about other things, like work and Matt’s broad shoulders. He looked good in a tuxedo. People were going off in organized groups to enjoy the sights of the Tower, not the Crown Jewels though. The Jewel House was out of bounds tonight. It was gone nine thirty, and I wondered how late Matt planned on staying. I needed sleep. This upcoming week would be as busy as the last. Matt, my handsome Matt, had gone on one of the tours after I assured him I’d be okay hanging out in the marquee. Bella was somewhere about. I suspected Matt had asked her to keep an eye on me when he’d pulled her to one side ten minutes before he went off with Adam and a bunch of other people.
Grumps tapped his fingers on the table top.
I peered at my fingernails.
He shifted in his seat.
I stared in the opposite direction and sent a small wave to Bella who was chatting with a lady wearing a vibrant-red dress. Didn’t she know this was a black and white ball? No respect for the rules that one.
“Ms DuMont, you don’t have to keep me company,” Grumps said dryly. “Not that it is much company. We haven’t spoken since you sat back down.”
I gave him a tight smile. “Please, Mr Bradley, call me Madi, and I’m sure Matt wouldn’t like the thought of you sitting here on your own. Where’s your nurse, anyway?”
Grumps grunted and shifted in his seat again. “It would be a sign of weakness if I had a nurse hovering over me all night. I am not weak.”
My face was sceptical, as was my voice. “How old are you?”
Grumps’s eyes flashed and his eyebrows wagged at me. Yep, just like Matt’s. We fell back into another awkward silence. What could I say to make him like me? Was it possible to make him like me?
I chewed my lower lip, then cursed silently when I noticed Matt’s stunning ex sauntering over. What the hell did she want? Junk-touching floozy.
Grumps smiled at her approach. Huh? I was Matt’s girlfriend. Why didn’t he smile at me like that? Maybe because I’d insulted him? The childish voice in my head whined that he’d started it first.
She drew nearer to where we sat, holding a wine goblet in her hand and an angelic look on her face. I couldn’t help the feeling of inferiority that curdled my insides. She was beautiful. I totally understood how Matt could be with someone like her. She was smiling at me, so friendly was the smile my own lips unwillingly curled up in a shy response. Maybe I should forgive her. I mean, it must be hard losing Matt. Maybe she was sad and the incident at the dinner party was her warped way of trying to hold on to something that was no longer hers. I would be devastated if Matt and I broke up. What would I have done in her situation? Hmm, not feel him up in public…but I might have tried to in private, down an empty hallway somewhere. I probably would’ve cried, begging him to take me back, to make love to me once more.
And just like that, I felt pity for Aphrodite. Being in the warmth of Matt’s love was an amazing thing, to have it taken away would be torture. She was wearing jewellery he bought her, an obvious cry for attention. Poor thing. I was raised Christian, not practicing at the moment, but that was between me and God. It was my Christian duty to forgive and forget. Holding grudges made you bitter inside and was bad for your health. Yep, I would forgive Aphrodite. Of course, I would need to have a little girl-to-girl chat with her about her behaviour. Slip into the conversation I’d grown up in Queens, where we didn’t stand for shit. Maybe quote a rap song so she knew how badass we were.
She was a couple of steps away, mouth opening to speak, when she stumbled forward. I reacted instantly, lunging out to grab her before she toppled onto Grumps and squished him.
“I’m so sorry.” She gasped as I jerked back.
“It’s okay,” I cried, staring in horror at my dress.
“How clumsy of me. I’m so sorry, Allison.” She sounded distraught.
“It’s fine.” I frantically grabbed a few napkins and started dabbing at my beautiful dress. My beautiful white dress was wet down the front. Red wine. It had been red wine in her glass. Red wine now staining my freaking too expensive dress. The stain would never come out.
“Louisa.” Grumps’s voice was harsh. “Look at what you’ve done.”
“It’s fine,” I repeated. It wasn’t fine. “It was an accident.”
Louisa kept babbling her apologies as I dumped the used napkins on the table. I raised my head to reassure her I was all right, that it was an unfortunate accident, to ask if her foot was okay, and, although her tone was sincere, I saw the glint of pure satisfaction in her eyes.
The low-down, no-good, evil witch.
People were coming over, curious about the commotion. Bella pushed her way past and gave Louisa a nasty look before standing next to me.
“What happened?” she exclaimed.
“I tripped,” Louisa explained, resting her now empty goblet on the table. “God. I feel terrible, Allison. Your lovely dress is ruined.”
I inhaled deeply, fighting the urge to rip her blonde hair out. “My name is Madison and, as I said before, it’s fine.” It so wasn’t.
“It’s not like you to be clumsy, Louisa.” Grumps’s tone was full of reproach as Bella patted me on the shoulder.
“Let’s go get you cleaned up,” she murmured.
I shook my head. “It’s red wine, it won’t come out. Look, I’m gonna go.” I was furious, but there was a small crowd and making a scene would be more embarrassing. I couldn’t stay, not with a large red stain down the front of my dress. People would think I was a blundering idiot incapable of putting a glass to my lips properly.
God. I wanted to smack the bitch. How clichéd spilling wine down my dress. Couldn’t she have thought of something more original? Like shoving me into the Thames, or running me over with a car. Wine down my dress…stupid, evil cow.
“What are you staring at?” Grumps fumed at the guests hovering around us. One by one they wandered away until only the four of us remained. Louisa kept apologizing, but I was past her pathetic attempts of acting remorseful.
“I’ll go find, Matt,” Bella said kindly. “Then we can leave.”
“He’s gone off with Adam,” Grumps advised, before glaring at us. “Help me up, Madison.”
I was so shocked over his use of my first name that I jumped into action and did as he ordered. When he stood on his own two feet, I started to pull away but his grip on my arm tightened.
“Tell Matthew I’ll be taking her home,” Grumps said. “It’s time I left anyway. Come on, my driver will be out front waiting.”
My eyes widened. I wanted to leave, but not with Grumps. I looked at Bella, then tried to ease away from Grumps. His grip didn’t let up. Damn. He was strong for someone his age.
“Uh, I think I should go with Matt, Mr Bradley,” I stammered, reaching for my clutch.
“Nonsense.” Grumps ignored my words. “He’ll most likely be talking business for the rest of the night and you can’t stay here looking like this with photographers lurking around. It’s unbecoming and the stench of alcohol on you is off-putting. My driver will take you home.”
Medusa. I was ditching the Aphrodite title. Matt’s ex was ugly on the inside and out. Medusa smiled sweetly at me.
I faced Bella. “Can you let Matt know I’ve left with his granddad? I didn’t bring my cell so I can’t call him now.”
“Of course, Madi,” she agreed, before pulling her phone out and walking off.
With a shake of my head in Louisa’s direction, I took a deep breath and smiled at Grumps. “Shall we?”
He nodded and we started walking out the marquee. What a way for my first date with Matt to go. At least my night was ending the way it started: on the arm of a Bradley. This one though did absolutely nothing for my libido.
I took four steps with Grumps, then stopped. “Excuse me, Mr Bradley. I need a moment.”
His left eyebrow shot up suspiciously as I flashed him a tight smile and turned on my heels. Louisa was still by the table, her back to me, probably cackling to herself. She must have heard my approach because she turned around with a smile on her face. It died when she saw it was me. I walked up to her, glancing around to confirm there were no photographers around.
“Listen here, you big-boobed Barbie bitch,” I started in a low voice filled with barely controlled rage. “I’m going let this go because I don’t want to cause a scene that would embarrass my boyfriend. But tonight was strike two, strike one being you putting your bloody hands on my man. Yeah, he told me—”
“How dare you speak to me like that?” she hissed.
“Shut the fuck up, I’m not done talking.” I narrowed my eyes until they were brown slits of fury. “Two strikes. You’re on borrowed time now because, I swear to you, if you do anything, anything at all, to piss me off, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” she challenged, smirking at me.
I smirked right back. “I’ll lay you the fuck out, and if that expression is too American for you to understand, let me break it down for you: I. Will. Kick. Your. Ass.”
She snorted in disdain. I said I would let it go, but she snorted. A response was needed.
I smiled sweetly, closing the distance between us. My nearness made her uneasy but, before she could step back, I planted my palm against her shoulder while hooking a leg behind her knee. She hit the ground with a shriek.
“Oh my gosh!” I said loudly, jumping back. “Are you all right?”
Louisa glared up at me. People were noticing her on the ground, turning and coming over.
“You poor thing,” I continued in a loud voice and holding a hand out. “Let me help you up. You’re clumsy on those heels tonight, aren’t you? Spilling drinks on me, now this.” I chuckled lightly, exchanging friendly looks with the couple closest to us. She glowered at me for a split second before taking my outstretched hand. I helped her up and we both plastered fake smiles on our faces. Appearances needed to be maintained. I was a lady.
“Thank you,” she said, waving away the concerned bystanders. She really meant ‘Fuck you.’
“You’re welcome,” I replied, tightening my grip on my clutch. I really meant ‘Fuck you, too.’
“I’ll tell Matt you said goodbye,” she called coyly after I’d turned to take my leave. I paused for a second taking a deep calming breath, then continued to walk over to where Grumps stood. He’d seen it all and that eyebrow of his was arched. He held his arm out. I took it.
“Feel better now?” he asked.
“Yes, actually I do.”
We didn’t look at each other as we walked out the marquee. Shit. Grumps would think I was a crazy ass.
“You and I need to talk, Madison,” he said quietly.
I sighed, mentally reloading my pistol and wondering who would survive the upcoming showdown. If Matt’s behaviour was something he’d learnt from his grandfather, I was screwed…
>>>
Matt let out a low laugh at a joke Adam made and glanced at his wristwatch. He’d been socializing for the past forty five minutes and was anxious to get back to his woman. She was breathtakingly stunning tonight. When he’d picked her up earlier, it was all he could do to stop himself from having his way with her on those stairs. That dress was made for her body. Hell, it was made to be torn off her body. He didn’t know how he was going to pull off ‘dating’ her. It had been far too long since he’d drowned himself in her sweetness. A little over a week was definitely too long to be without the feel of her naked body against his.
“I’m going to head back, Adam,” Matt said abruptly. “I’ve left Madi alone for too long.”
“Bella’s looking after her,” Nathan said from behind him. Matt turned around, nodding at his friend’s words.
“Yes, I know, but I left her with Grumps,” he said dryly. “I want to make sure they haven’t killed each other yet.”
Adam chuckled under his breath. “She sure knows how to rile the old man up.”
“Serves him right,” Matt grumbled. “He started it.”
“Let’s all go back,” Nathan agreed, acknowledging one of their mutual friends a few yards away with a shake of head. “I’m in need of a fresh drink anyway.”
The three men moved away from the outskirt of the group of people and started heading back the way they’d come.
“I’ve got to say, Matt,” Adam fell into step with him, “Madison’s got one hell of a body.”
“Shut the fuck up, Adam,” Matt growled in a low, hard voice.
“Touchy,” his brother teased. “You’ve never had a problem before with me complimenting your girlfriends.”
“Don’t be an arse,” Matt hissed as they walked past people coming from the opposite direction. “I won’t tolerate your usual behaviour when it comes to Madi.”
Nathan laughed at the two of them, close on their heels. “He’s like a bulldog with her, Adam. You should’ve seen him outside with the press.”
Matt ignored their good-natured ribbing and quickened his pace. It seemed people couldn’t see he was in a hurry. Every few metres, someone would stop him, or Adam, or Nathan. They would spend a couple of minutes making small talk, before resuming their journey to the moat. It was another forty five minutes before they finally entered the marquee. Matt’s eyes restlessly searched the throng of guest milling about after seeing the empty seats at their table.
“There’s Bella,” Nathan said, moving off towards his girlfriend. When she turned and spotted them, she practically pushed her way through the bodies surrounding her and hurried over.
“Matt, I’ve been trying to call your mobile for the last hour,” she said.
Nathan wrapped one arm around her waist. “Bella, darling, what’s wrong?”
She turned to him with a frown on her face. “Madi’s left with William—”
“What?” Both Matt and Adam asked with equal measures of surprise and alarm.
“What do you mean she’s left?” Matt asked in confusion, his eyes searching the crowds for his poppet.
“Your grandfather said he would take her home after Louisa spilt red wine all over her,” Bella explained quickly. “Madi’s dress was ruined and Louisa said it was an accident—”
“The little bitch,” Matt hissed. “I’m certain it was no accident.”
Adam rested a hand on his shoulder. “Calm down, Matt. I’m sure it was an accident.”
Matt shot his brother an annoyed look.
Adam shrugged before saying, “But we all know what Louisa is like. Call Grumps to check she’s okay.”
“He never answers his bloody mobile,” Matt said. “You know he rarely turns it on. Look, I’ve got to go. Madi doesn’t have her keys. Nathan, are you guys staying? I’m sure Adam can give you a lift home.”
“No, we’ll go with you,” Nathan said immediately. “Bella, do you have your bag?”
She nodded, holding her purse up. Matt was furious. When next he saw Louisa Gilliford he would…smack the bitch. Madi’s voice echoed in his head. He wouldn’t do that, but he would remind her exactly who she was dealing with.
“Adam.” Matt turned to his brother. “Sorry to have to leave you holding down the fort but I need to go. See you at the office tomorrow. I’ll be coming in late.”
Adam gave him a brotherly half-hug, muttering in his ear, “I’ll deal with Louisa, just make sure Madi is okay.”
Matt gave him a small smile as Adam stepped back. “Leave it, Adam. I’ll sort it out myself. I need to go.”
They said their goodbyes and within fifteen minutes, Matt, Nathan and Bella were in the back of the limousine.
“Oh, I just remembered, Matt. She doesn’t have her mobile on her,” Bella said as Matt called Madi for the second time.
Matt sighed in frustration as he hung up and slipped his phone in his pocket. She really was absentminded sometimes. His sweet poppet. God. Her beautiful dress, ruined by his jealous ex. Bloody Louisa Gilliford. Why couldn’t she understand it was over between them?
“The driver is dropping me off first,” Matt warned. “Madi’s probably arrived home by now.”
“I’m sure your grandfather will wait. Why don’t you try calling him just in case?” Nathan asked.
Matt, praying that for once Grumps had turned on his mobile, dialled the number. It went straight to voicemail.
Another frustrated sigh left his lips as Nathan and Bella peered at him.
“I never liked her,” Bella said suddenly. Nathan hushed her, glancing nervously at Matt’s stormy face. Bella didn’t stop. “Honestly, Matt. What did you ever see in Louisa? She’s a horrible person.”
Matt didn’t answer. He had no answer. The glaring differences between his relationship with Madi and the one with Louisa made him uncomfortable. He had grown used to the thought of Louisa, had accepted over the years that he would eventually end up with her, or someone exactly like her. Then Madi had entered his life, turning everything upside down, making him realize how truly empty his prior existence was. She completed him. As ridiculous as it sounded in his head, it was the truth. He hadn’t known what he was lacking until he met her. Seated in the backseat of the limo, an image of his poppet coming down those stairs floated before his eyes. White suited her. Matt could imagine her making some funny comment about their different races if he’d said that. He could picture her in another white dress, one that symbolized a lot more: a lifetime commitment, a lifetime of love.
He could also see himself waiting eagerly for her to take those steps which would—
He looked up at Nathan and spoke quietly. “I’m going to marry her.”
“What?” Bella cried out unhappily. “Matt, no. Louisa isn’t right for you. Tell him, Nathan.”
Nathan shushed Bella, eyes fixed on his best friend. “You’ve made your mind up?”
Matt nodded slowly. He had made his mind up. It scared the life out of him, but he felt as if the decision was out of his hands, as if he had no choice in the matter. And Matt felt fucking fantastic.
Nathan scanned Matt’s face intently, trying his hardest to maintain a relaxed demeanour. “Your parents will be pleased.”
“I doubt that,” Matt drawled, a slow smile stretching his mouth wide. Bloody hell. This was the most reckless decision he’d ever made, and the easiest.
Nathan looked at him, perplexed at Matt’s statement. His eyes widened and the colour drained from his face as he asked, “Wait, who exactly are we talking about here?”
Bella was fretting. “This is a mistake. I know I shouldn’t say anything but, Matt, Louisa isn’t—”
“I’m not going to marry that cold-hearted witch,” Matt interrupted, joyous determination etched on his face.
Bella’s mouth fell open. She grabbed Nathan’s arm, as if suddenly unbalanced although she was sitting down.
Nathan leaned forward. “Matthew, you can’t mean—are you telling me—who the fuck else is there? You can’t seriously be thinking about Madison? Tell me you’re not.”
Matt couldn’t wipe the smile off his lips. He kept smiling as Nathan completely lost his rag.
“You are out of your fucking mind, mate. You barely know the girl. I barely know her.”
Bella broke out of her shock, leaning forward also. “Matt, I don’t think you should marry Louisa, but you can’t be serious about Madi. You’re joking, right?”
“He’s fucking mental,” Nathan yelled. “And delusional if he thinks I’m going to stand by and let him marry someone he doesn’t truly know.”
Matt understood their astonished reactions. Hell, he was shocked, too. But underneath it all, an ever-increasing calm filled his body. She completed him and he didn’t want to feel empty ever again.
Nathan continued to shout at him, angrily listing all the whys and wherefores Matt shouldn’t consider marrying Madi, while Bella tried to calm Nathan down and reason with Matt at the same time.
He let them go on for about thirty minutes before saying solemnly, “I understand and appreciate your concerns, I really do, but she makes my soul sing. I have never felt this way about another woman. She’s mine and if, she’ll have me, I’ll be hers for the rest of our lives.”
They both fell silent for a few moments. Then Nathan, whose face was almost purple with rage, started in on him again. “Makes your soul sing? Fucking hell, Matt. Are you on drugs? Are you hearing yourself? Slow down for one goddamned minute here—”
“What did you tell me, Nathan?” Matt cut him off. “The first day you met Bella all those years ago? Do you remember?”
Nathan jerked back, glancing slowly at Bella. She stared at them, head swivelling between them.
“I—” Nathan rubbed a hand over his frustrated face.
“Sweetheart.” Bella touched his cheek. “What is it?”
Matt continued on, seeing as Nathan was at a loss for words. “You said to me that you’ve met the one, your future wife, the only woman you could ever be with. She only spoke to you for five minutes and you’d already decided she was it for you.”
“And you said I was crazy. That I needed my head testing as there was no such thing.” Nathan had found his voice.
Matt nodded, flashing Bella an adoring smile. “I did, and I was wrong. You two are meant for each other. The same way I know Madi’s meant to be mine.”
Nathan flopped back against the upholstered seat, eyes squeezed shut. “You’ve lost your mind. The pressure has finally gotten to you.” Nathan’s eyes flew open and he glared at Matt, coldly stating, “You’re thirty-seven years old, at the age where you know you should settle down. This—this ridiculous notion you have to marry Madison is nothing more than a response to that. Look, I’ll be brutally frank with you. You know how I feel about Louisa. I don’t like her, I never did. And I want you to find someone special like I have. I want you to find your own Bella, but it’s not Madison, mate. She’s lovely, don’t get me wrong, but she’s not right for you, Matt. She’s not the one for you.”
“Why?” Matt asked in a tone as frigid as Nathan’s. “Because she’s black?”
“No, you fucking arsehole,” Nathan yelled. “I’m bloody tired of you implying I have a problem with her because of her race. I don’t.”
“Nathan,” Bella rested a hand on his arm, squeezing gently. He shrugged her off and leaned forward, blue eyes filling with pure disdain.
“Because she’s young, Matt. When you eventually get bored of her, which I know you will, it’ll destroy the poor girl. Do you want that on your conscience? Do you want to taint her? Your poppet? Are you going to protect her from the media? Your family? From all those envious people out there who would do about anything to see you fail?”
“Yes,” Matt said with certainty. “I will protect her.”
“Oh, I see,” Nathan mocked nastily. “And yourself? Will you protect her from yourself? You don’t get it, do you? You’re what…her first boyfriend?”
“Yes. What’s your point?” Matt asked quietly.
“She’s inexperienced, and you’re so bloody domineering the poor girl has no idea what’s hit her. What’s going to happen five, maybe ten, years down the line when she starts to resent you for stealing her youth?”
“Damn it, Nathan. She’s not sixteen.” Matt let out an incredulous short bark of laughter. “You’re acting like she doesn’t know what she wants. Let me remind you that she’s a determined woman who—”
Nathan cut him off with a terse, “If you’re that strung out about getting married, you can live vicariously through my wedding. Hell, I’ll let you plan the whole damned thing. I’ve already got a date and place in mind—” Nathan stopped suddenly, head snapping around to see Bella’s transfixed expression.
“Nathan Walthamstow,” she said after a few charged seconds. “If that was a marriage proposal, I must say it is the most unromantic thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Nathan gulped nervously, running a hand through his hair wildly before sending a mean look in Matt’s direction. “Look at what you’ve made me do.”
Matt held his hands up, regarding Nathan and his girlfriend with growing surprise.
Bella continued to frown at Nathan…but was she frowning? On closer inspection, Matt detected the glimmer of a smile fighting to escape.
“Um, Bella, darling.” Nathan cleared his throat harshly, sending another vicious look at Matt’s grinning face. Nathan cleared his throat again. “Ah, can we discuss this at a later time?”
She folded her arms; her expression said it all.
Nathan’s mouth made an attempt at a limp smile.
“You should ask her already, Nathan,” Matt drawled. “We know you want to.”
“You, shut up.” Nathan jabbed a finger at Matt before increasing the strength of his smile as he faced his girlfriend. “Darling, now is neither the time nor the place to discuss our personal situation. I’m trying to talk sense into Matt right now.”
“We’re almost there,” Matt supplied helpfully. “I’ll be out of your hair in about five minutes. Carry on, Nathan. Bella and I are anxiously awaiting your next sentence. It should start with a ‘will you’.”
“Will you shut up, you wanker?” Nathan exploded. His face was more of a deep, embarrassed red than the angry purple of a few minutes ago.
“Nathan,” Bella rebuked him at his tone. “Don’t speak to Matt like that.”
“Whose side are you on?” Nathan shouted, before dropping his head into his hands. “God. Everyone be quiet for a moment.”
The back of the limo descended into silence. For ten seconds. Then Bella stroked a hand through Nathan’s ruffled blonde locks, eyes glistening with tears.
“The answer is yes, darling. Whatever you want to ask me, whenever you want to ask me, the answer will always be yes.”
Nathan raised his head slowly, a tremulous smile on his face. The relief pouring out his eyes made Matt feel downright ecstatic for his closest friend.
“Even though it’s long overdue?” Nathan asked softly, reaching for Bella’s hand.
Bella laughed, nodding. “Years overdue but, yes, Nate. The answer will always be yes.”
Nathan made a sound at the back of his throat, then grabbed Bella to him. Matt averted his eyes as his friend passionately kissed the woman he cherished. He was excited for them, but seeing their happiness only cemented the fact Madi was the only one for him. Did it matter they hadn’t been in a relationship for long? Did it matter their difference in age? Did it matter they were from two completely different worlds?
No. Matt thought to himself. No to all those questions. This was his life and he wanted Madison DuMont in it. He needed her in it. And that was the most terrifying thing of all. The way he needed her. Of course, he wasn’t going to ask her to marry him immediately. That would be foolish and most likely to scare her away. No, he would need to take his time with her. She was inexperienced, true, and he knew how completely dominating he could be. There was also the issue of their respective families to deal with. Matt chewed his lower lip, eyebrows pulling together with worry as the sound of Nathan intensely snogging Bella continued to fill the limo.
A year. A year should be enough time to smooth everything into place. A year was sufficient time to make Madi so completely addicted to him that the thought of being without him would be inconceivable. That evening those few months ago, when Nathan had barged into his home with the file that changed Matt’s life, he’d decided he would have her. She was his now, and he planned on keeping her.
The limo turned down her street, cruising slowly until it stopped in the middle of the road. Matt frowned when he couldn’t see his grandfather’s car. His frown deepened as he peered out at her terrace. He was sure he’d turned the living room lights off when he locked up after them.
“This is my stop,” he said dryly to his friends.
Nathan lifted his head, eyes glazed and breathing heavily. Bella was as bad—lipstick smeared and an unfocused look on her face.
“Wait, Matt,” Nathan said as Matt unbuckled his seatbelt. “We’ve not finished our discussion.”
Matt’s gaze went to Bella before returning to Nathan’s flushed features. “I think you have more important things to deal with tonight, mate. And remember, she may have said yes but you still need to ask. You can thank me tomorrow.”
Matt opened his door and got out before Nathan could respond. He shut the door and strode across the street, pulling his keys from his tuxedo jacket. He was certain he’d flicked off the lights when they left earlier…