Chapter 5
Chapter Five
ANNA
We walk arm in arm, and I ignore Madi’s not-so-subtle chuckles. I roll my eyes, killing the temptation to look back and see if Luke is watching.
I can not form a crush on this man. There are so many reasons why that is a very bad idea. Is this me projecting so I don’t have to focus on the real issues: My life being threatened and all?
Madi sips her to-go coffee. “Alright. Let’s get the not-fun stuff out of the way first,” she begins.
My shoulders lock up, already knowing I have to listen and process what she’s got so far.
Madison guides us toward the tree line. The further we walk, the louder a nearby water source picks up. It’s rural as all hell, but also pretty beautiful and peaceful.
“I’ve been quietly looking into the company’s records. I’ve made copies of invoices, campaign, and vendor reports that look off.”
“How did you get access?” I ask.
Madi shoots me her signature smirk. “Babe,” she deadpans.
“Right,” I nod, knowing not to bother.
“How do they look off?” I ask instead.
“Certain accounts’ management doesn’t add up. Heard of Barron Associates?”
“Yeah, they worked on that last year,” I confirm.
“Huge ad spends on paper. Like, five-hundred thousand.”
“Yeah?” Seemed like a big investment for a shipping company, but all sorts of clients seek a marketing boost for different quarters.
“When I dug deeper, get this…only fifty-k was actually spent.”
I frown, thinking back to some of the emails I managed for that. “That…can’t be.”
“No clue where the rest of that budget was redirected to, but I plan on finding out,” Madi determines, and she has that shrew look in her eyes.
“Could they trace any of this digging to you, Mad, cause I couldn’t live with myself if anything—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” she coos, stopping and taking my shoulders in her hands. “Breathe.”
I didn’t realize my lungs hurt from racing to catch up. I grip her wrists, grounding myself, and then breathe.
“Anna. I love you like a sister. I would not further risk you or me. I have a lot to live for. I’m not going to jeopardize what I’ve discovered here or bring a shit storm to my man’s livelihood. I’m also not scared of these fuckers.”
“Maybe you should be. We don’t know how bad they are, Madison.”
Madi pulls me into a hug. I grip the back of her silk blouse, fear crawling up my veins.
“This is what I do. No, they can’t trace anything I’m doing. I’m being very thorough and careful. I also have extremely trusted contacts who don’t fuck around and are the best at what they do. I promise, Anna. This will be over soon.”
I want to believe her. I do. But some things are bigger and out of our control. To appease my friend, I nod, and we pull apart.
“Alright. Enough with the heavy,” she says, linking our arms again and bringing us to a running creek. “Next time you’re being straddled by a cowboy, text me so I don’t show up.”
A laugh coughs out as I unlink us and shove her.
“He wasn’t straddling me.”
“I was there, Kim. I have eyes,” she grins.
“It wasn’t like that. It was serious. He was teaching me self-defense.”
We stop at the edge of the creek. High, vibrant green mountains are the backdrop and colors dot the edges as Spring blooms. Madi turns and studies me. I hate when she does this. She’s too damn perceptive.
“What’s it been? Two years since you last dated?”
My eyes widen. “What the hell does that have to do with anything, bitch?”
Laughing, she rests her hand at her popped-out hip. “That pussy of yours is reverting to virginity.”
“I take care of my situation, thank you very much. One does not need a man to do it. Ask Lesbians.”
Madison cackles. “They’re still engaging in all sorts of debauchery to each other’s bodies. Which you, babe, are not.”
“Are you in my bedroom, watching like a perverted peeping Tom?” I challenge, defensively.
Fine. Yeah. Not much action has happened down under other than the occasional bullet on my clit. But, who has time? I get home exhausted, eat, read or watch something, shower, get ready for bed, rinse and repeat.
“What was the name of that last guy?” Madi asks, pensively looking out at the land.
I roll my eyes. She knows exactly what his name was.
“Oh, right! Prickly Pecker Pete.”
And, there it is.
“Yes. How could you forget,” I say, sarcastically.
“The man did not know how to use it. Stabbing your poor vagina the wrong way every time.”
“I share too much with you,” I tell her, planting my ass on the grass.
Still can’t get used to seeing big city, powerhouse lawyer, in her Chanel, Prada, and Louis Vitton, planting her perfectly pleated slacks on the grass next to me.
“Who are you?” I ask, laughing.
“What?” She looks down at her outfit then scoffs. “It’s just clothes. I have a million more in the spare room closet.
“How the hell did you end up with a rugged cowboy, living on a ranch? With cows!”
Madi sets her empty cup beside her, laughing. But there’s this glow about her I’ve never seen before. “Girl, let me tell you. The right man can rewire your brain in ways you’d swear could never be done.” Smiling, Madi sighs then turns to me. “Never in a million years. You know.”
“Oh, I know. Which is why I’m still wrapping my head around it. Especially now that I’m actually witnessing it, in person.”
“I gave up on believing men like him existed,” she says. “First, a man who actually knows his way around a woman’s body?” she scoffs.
“Spare me the details, please,” I grin, shaking my head.
“But then, it was the way he makes me laugh. The way I catch him looking at me from across the room. He doesn’t try to mold me, change me. He loves me, as I am. As cheesy as that sounds. On the outside, it seems wild but we fit, Anna. We complement each other in ways I can’t even explain.”
“Wow.” I’ve heard her gush about him for the last year but a part of me was waiting for Madison to get bored and move on.
“So,” she says, getting up and brushing off the back of her slacks. Madi holds out her hand to stand me up. I take it. “Prickly Pecker Pete can not be the last man who stuck his dick inside you.”
“For fuck’s sake, Madi.”
Laughing, she grabs her empty cup, her shoulder-length blonde hair dancing wildly in the breeze. “I’m serious! That’s a tragedy. You are hot. You’re funny. You are a secret nerd. Men would be so lucky.”
“How am I a nerd?” I raise my brow, following as we head back.
“Those science fiction books you love, for one.”
“Sci-fi is a perfectly acceptable genre that people read,” I defend.
“The tiny figurines you 3D print and paint?” she asks.
Oh, man. I miss my printer.
“Art. It’s a respectable hobby.”
Chuckling, Madi links arms again. “Fine. But, just saying, nothing wrong with being a nerd. I find it lovable.”
“Gee. Thanks,” I deadpan.
Madi leans in. “What I walked in on was hot.”
“Not what it was, Madison.”
“Luke’s hot. I can say that, objectively.”
“He’s like ten years older or something,” I make as an excuse.
“Um, do you not remember the age gap between Gabe and I?”
I do, actually. Watching them together, you never think about it.
“Exactly,” she grins, as if reading my mind.
I swear, she secretly can.
“He’s white,” I try again.
“And? Pecker Pete was Irish.”
“You know what I mean,” I sigh.
We stop just at the tree line, keeping our distance from the cabin.
“Your parents grew up here,” she reminds me.
“Sure, but my Halmis migrating with all their Korean ideals. They still had to adhere to most traditions,” I remind her.
“You’re twenty-six. You’ve been living alone across the country for almost six years. Do they honestly still think you’re going to end up with an Asian boy?”
“Think? Babe. They expect it.”
“Still?” she asks, her face in disbelief.
“While my Halmis are alive? Yeah.”
Suddenly frustrated, I gaze at the rustic cabin Luke has made his sanctuary. Alone, all the way out here. Not many possessions, just enough, as if one day, if he needed to pick up and run, his entire life would fit in his truck.
And yet…there’s something charming and tempting about getting lost and hiding away from the world.
“Holy shit,” Madi whispers. “You like him.”
“What?” I face her, wide-eyed. “The hell are you talking about?”
Laughing, she nods. “You totally have a boner for Luke Davis. I don’t blame you.”
“I do not have a,” realizing I’m practically yelling, I lower my voice, “boner for Luke. What are we, thirteen-year-old boys?”
“All I’m saying is, I trust that man. Gabe trusts him. You’re safe here. If y’all are vibing, why not make your stay here more interesting, is all.”
“You know I’m not about one-night stands,” I remind her, crossing my arms, hoping to God Luke isn’t anywhere close by, hearing this.
“I know, I know,” she waves me off. “But it wouldn’t be. It could be a mutual sexual retreat.”
“I’m done with you.” I shake my head and start heading toward the cabin.
“You love me,” she calls from behind.
“Sometimes.”
“All the time.” She catches up. “Lunch? I’m starving.”
My stomach grumbles, remembering last night’s sad excuse for dinner. At least I had coffee.
“Actually? Yeah.”
“Perfect! My hot cowboy is making everyone some mean Italian grinder subs. I’m salivating, just thinking about them.”
“Oh, my God. That actually sounds so good.”
“What sounds good?” Luke asks from our left.
“Hey, honey.” Madison smiles brightly seeing Gabe walk up beside Luke.
“Hey, Tempest. Hungry?” he asks with a dirty glint in his eye.
“Well, now I am,” she grins, jumping into his arms and wrapping her legs around him.
Dear Lord. These two.
“Hey,” Luke tips his head. He’s carrying bags of…groceries? “I brought lunch for us.”
“Oh.” Surprised, I scan the bags.
“You brought lunch?” Gabe asks when Madi lets him come up for air. He gently sets her down.
“Not for you,” Luke grunts, which makes Gabe slowly grin.
“Don’t fucking start,” Luke grunts under his breath, giving Gabe a mean stare.
Chuckling, Gabe nods. “If my sandwiches aren’t good enough for you, you should’ve said.”