5. Ian
5
IAN
“Ready to go?” I asked Maddie as I stepped out of my office about twenty minutes later.
She quickly logged out of her computer and grabbed her bag. “Ready.”
We stood in silence as we waited for the elevator, the quiet stretching between us. After a moment, I cleared my throat. “Sorry if I seem a little off today,” I said, my tone softer than usual. “I think I’m still jet-lagged from Norway.”
“Oh?” She tilted her head, seeming surprised that I’d offered an explanation. “Were the layovers bad?”
“No layovers, actually. My family and I took my dad’s jet.” I managed a small smile, finding it refreshing that she hadn’t known that I rarely travelled commercial. “So I should’ve slept like a baby, but it was a long weekend.” I rubbed the back of my neck, the weight of the weekend still lingering.
When I’d agreed to "give away" my good friend Addison at her wedding, standing in a place usually reserved for a father, I thought it would be a simple, straightforward task. Walking down the aisle in front of their closest friends should’ve been easy.
And technically, it was.
But watching the woman who’d stolen little pieces of my heart vow to love and cherish another man for the rest of her life? Well…that was harder than I’d expected.
Not that I wasn’t happy for Addison and Evan—I was. They were perfect for each other, and I wanted nothing more than to see them get their happily ever after.
But during that year when Evan had gone missing, I’d gotten… confused .
For a fleeting, hopelessly romantic moment, I thought that if Addison couldn’t have her happy ending with him, maybe—just maybe—there’d be a chance for me.
“Who was the wedding for?” Maddie asked, pulling me from my thoughts. “A family friend?”
“Yes. I’m actually friends with both the bride and the groom,” I said, deciding to sidestep the whole falling-for-my-best-friend’s-girl thing. “But I knew the groom first—we’re business partners.”
Her dark eyebrows lifted. “Does he work here, too, then?”
“No.” I chuckled softly. “He actually owns The Garden—the club where we, uh, met.” I glanced at her, and the knowing look that passed between us reminded me that while my love life might be as dry as the Sahara right now, that kiss... Well, it was not easy to forget. “I’m one of the investors. It’s a side project, separate from my father’s company.”
“Seems like a pretty successful side project.” She smiled, probably remembering how packed the club had been that night.
“It’s been a good investment.” I nodded. “Anyway, it was a big weekend, a lot going on, and I didn’t get as much sleep as I should have.”
I noticed her studying me for a moment, like she was trying to read between the lines. But since I really didn’t need anyone knowing why I was feeling slightly heartbroken, I didn’t explain further.
Sometimes it was good to remain a little mysterious. Especially if I wanted to maintain the facade of a boss who had his crap together.
The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside. It was crowded with business professionals from the floors above, forcing us to stand close. When Maddie’s arm brushed against mine, I caught the subtle hitch in her breath and felt a smirk tug at my lips. That spark from The Garden? Yeah, it was still there.
Even if it really shouldn’t be.
We stepped out into the lobby when the elevator hit the main level. Resisting the urge to place my hand behind my new assistant’s waist to steer her toward the exit, I walked just a step ahead of Maddie to lead the way.
“I have a standing reservation here for Monday lunches,” I said, holding the door open for Maddie as we stepped into the restaurant. “So the hostess should have a table waiting for us near the back.”
As we waited for the hostess to greet us, I inhaled deeply, letting the familiar aroma of curry and spices wrap around me like an old, comforting friend. The restaurant was unassuming but elegant, with warm lighting that created a cozy, intimate atmosphere. The décor was minimalist—dark wooden tables, vibrant artwork of Thailand’s landscapes on the walls, and bamboo accents that gave the place an authentic touch. It wasn’t flashy, but the calm and welcoming energy made it feel like an escape from the high-pressure world I found myself navigating each week.
“Mr. Hastings!” The owner, Saylee, a petite woman with graying hair, lit up as soon as she saw us, her smile bright and welcoming. “What a pleasure it is to have you here today.”
“I can’t seem to stay away,” I said with a chuckle, knowing my weakness for their cuisine. “Your yellow curry is addictive.”
“I’m glad you think so.” She beamed up at me. Then casting a quick glance at Maddie, she said, “Let me show you and your guest to your table.”
We followed Saylee down the aisle, weaving through tables of business professionals deep in conversation. I didn’t miss the curious glances Maddie and I were getting—the way some eyes lingered a little too long. It was a familiar scene, part of the package that came with being Joel Hastings’ son.
And, of course, my dating reputation didn’t help.
I could imagine the Nancys and Lindas of New Haven speculating, wondering if Maddie was my latest fling. She certainly fit the type I’d often gone for: petite, shoulder-length brown hair, striking blue eyes.
In other words, gorgeous.
But I rarely mixed business with pleasure, and given her professional blouse and pencil skirt instead of the figure-hugging and cleavage-flaunting dresses my usual dates wore, it should’ve been obvious to anyone watching that this was strictly a business lunch.
“Do I have a wardrobe malfunction I didn’t know about?” Maddie whispered, stepping beside me as she glanced at the table of twenty-somethings gawking at us. “Because they’re all looking at me funny.”
“No,” I said, briefly inspecting her white blouse and gray pencil skirt before glancing toward the table she was eyeing. When I found a few familiar faces looking our way, I scrunched up my nose and added, “Sorry, that’s probably my fault.”
“It is?” Her eyebrows knitted together.
“Yes. I briefly dated the woman in the red dress,” I said under my breath. “I think she and her friends are just curious about who you might be to me.”
“Oh.” Maddie’s eyes widened as she did a double take at Tennille and her friends. “So they probably don’t realize I’m your assistant?”
“Probably not.”
“Which means they probably hate me?”
I chuckled. “I think that’s a safe bet.”
“Oh goody,” Maddie muttered under her breath. And I had to resist the urge to pull her closer—to protect her from the prying eyes.
We reached our table, tucked slightly away from the crowd but still within view of those watchful stares. My gaze wandered to Tennille again, her long blonde hair and icy-blue eyes standing out. And just as expected, she was staring right at us, her perfectly manicured nails tapping rhythmically against her wine glass as she whispered something to her friend.
We’d met at a party last summer, and after hitting it off, had spent a whirlwind weekend in Costa Rica. The fling had fizzled almost as quickly as it started, but the jealousy in her eyes now suggested it had left more of a mark on her than I’d realized.
Which was part of my problem—too many brief flings leading to too many hurt feelings.
It was why I’d decided to cut myself off from all of it last August after I returned from my trip to Italy.
Okay fine, if I was being really honest, losing hope of ever having a chance with Addison may have also dulled the thrill of chasing after anyone else, especially after realizing how empty my superficial hookups had been. Getting my hopes up with my best friend’s girl had shone a spotlight on everything I’d been missing.
Which was why my kiss with Maddie at the club had blindsided me. It was my first real flirtation since I’d sworn off those reckless impulses, my first slip-up in nearly a year.
And at first I’d thought it might be a sign—like maybe the universe was giving me the green light to get back into the dating game. That I’d learned my lesson and could pursue the captivating woman who’d shocked my black heart back to life.
But nope, it was simply a test. A cruel twist of fate since the woman I’d kissed in that moment of weakness was none other than my new assistant. About as off-limits as she could be, and a harsh reminder that I really needed to keep my hands to myself.
But even if I felt lonely at times, it was a worthwhile sacrifice since my performance at work had never been better. I hoped that by this time next year, when my dad announced his plans to take on more of a part-time advisor role at the company, I’d be the obvious choice to fill his shoes.
Which was just another reason why the business summit had to go well. It wasn’t just about boosting our company’s image—it was about showing everyone that Hastings Industries was still a force to be reckoned with in the business world and stronger than ever.
So instead of letting my mind drift to the drama of my past, I turned my focus back to Maddie. She had paused beside me, seemingly debating which seat to take.
“Here, let me get that for you,” I offered, moving to pull out the chair closest to us.
“Oh. Th-thank you.” Her eyes widened as though she wasn’t used to anyone doing something as simple as pulling out a chair.
Had her ex not done things like that for her?
“Of course,” I replied softly. Our eyes lingered for a moment, and when a faint pink flush rose to her cheeks, I couldn’t help the pull of attraction I felt.
She really was so pretty. Beautiful, yet somehow approachable in a hometown girl kind of way.
And though I had typically chased after flashy, shiny women in the past, this sweet single mom from a small town… Well, she rattled me.
And I was rarely rattled by anyone.
As I helped her into the chair, the faint scent of her perfume—citrusy and light—drifted between us. It was subtle but intoxicating, and though it was probably the same scent she’d been wearing when she’d kissed me at The Garden, it felt familiar for another reason.
Out of nowhere, a flicker of the past surfaced: a girl I’d met on a beach during spring break of my freshman year of college. Her face was blurred by time, but the scent—or maybe just the feeling of that moment—brought it back.
Weird. I furrowed my brow as I took my seat, trying to pin down why the memory had suddenly resurfaced when I hadn’t thought about it in years.
Had the girl on the beach worn the same perfume as Maddie?
Possibly. Scents had a strange way of embedding themselves in memories.
But before I could dwell on it, Saylee appeared with menus, pulling me from my thoughts. “Here you go,” she said. “Will you be having your usual, Mr. Hastings?”
“Yes, please.” I nodded, grateful for the routine since my mind was a bit scattered at the moment. “And for my guest…” I glanced at Maddie, who was flipping through the menu. “Do you like curry?”
“I’ve actually never had it,” she said with an insecure look in her eyes.
“You haven’t?” I asked, surprised since yellow curry was basically a staple food of mine.
She nodded. “I probably shouldn’t admit it, but McDonald’s is more of the go-to restaurant for me and Grant these days.”
“Ah yes. I suppose that makes sense,” I said, grinning at her candidness. “I remember being quite fond of their five-star cuisine when I was younger.”
In fact, Maddie would probably be surprised that for a while there, back before my mom fell in love with a billionaire, it was the only type of restaurant we could afford.
“Their chicken nuggets are the best,” she said. “But…” She glanced down at her menu briefly. “If you say you’re addicted to the yellow curry here, then I suppose I should give it a shot.”
“Great choice.”
“And how spicy would you like that?” Saylee asked Maddie as she jotted down our orders on a small notepad.
“Uhh…” Maddie’s eyes widened as she looked to me for guidance.
“I’d recommend starting with number one,” I suggested. “It’s good for beginners.”
“Ok, I’ll try the number one spicy,” Maddie said to Saylee.
Saylee smiled, taking our menus. “I’ll have those ready for you soon.”
When we were alone again, Maddie leaned back in her chair, her gaze flicking around the room again. “So do people always stare at you like this?”
“Pretty much.” I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. “You get used to it after a while, though.”
“I don’t think I ever would,” she said, her eyes growing wide.
I shrugged. “It comes with the territory. Between the family name and a few high-profile exes, people like to speculate.”
“That must get exhausting.” Her lips twisted into a thoughtful frown.
“It can be.” I nodded, surprised by her understanding. Most people assumed I thrived on the attention—and, sure, there had been times I’d soaked it up. But Maddie seemed to see through the act.
As Maddie’s eyes softened, her voice dropped to a more sincere tone. “It must be hard to figure out who’s genuinely interested in you and who’s just...curious.”
“You could say that.” I held her gaze for a moment longer than I intended, the candidness in her words striking a chord.
“I’ll admit,” she added, her voice quieter, “that after finding out you were my boss last week, I did a little research so I wouldn’t embarrass myself again.” She looked down, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “And well…it made me think about how hard it must be to live under a microscope and have so many people having an opinion on what you’re doing.”
She’d researched me?
I could only imagine what kind of stories she’d come across—those “billionaire playboy” headlines weren’t exactly flattering.
Yeah, I certainly hadn’t been thinking of my future reputation back when I was jetting off on weekend trips with beautiful women, chasing the thrill.
Looking back, I realized it had been more than just a thirst for adventure—it was an addiction. A way to drown out the emptiness that had always been there.
If I could get enough women to want me, then surely I mattered, right? Surely I was someone worth chasing.
Deep down, I knew what I’d really been trying to fill—that hollow part of me that had never healed after my biological father lost interest in seeing me, or when Margot decided to throw in the towel on me.
Every fling had been a way to prove my worth, to convince myself I was someone worth staying for.
There was probably some case study out there about trust-fund kids like me who were numbing their loneliness with sex and extravagant trips. Heck, maybe there was one on me already.
“It’s not all bad,” I said with a half-smile, trying to ease the tension. “But you’re right.” I cleared my throat, shifting in my chair as I decided to be a bit more honest. “All the attention and constant scrutiny does make genuine connections complicated.”
Maddie’s eyes met mine, a flicker of understanding passing between us.
And for a moment, it seemed like she was about to say something more, to possibly share something real about herself. But before she could, Saylee returned with our drinks, breaking the spell.
“Here you are,” Saylee said, placing a glass of water in front of Maddie and a tumbler of sparkling water in front of me. “Your food should be out shortly.”
“Thank you,” we both said at the same time.
Saylee left again, and the comfortable silence between us resumed. I leaned back in my chair, studying her as she sipped her water.
“So,” I said, shifting the conversation toward safer ground, “I know I invited you here to talk about the business summit—and I promise we’ll get to that—but since you’ve apparently learned everything there is to know about me from your internet research…” I winked playfully. “I think it’s only right that I get to know a little more about you.”
“You want to get to know me?” She blinked, sounding genuinely surprised that I’d be interested in her story.
“We’ll be working pretty closely, so I think it’s a good idea to become better acquainted.” I shrugged, keeping it light. “You’re about to get a front-row seat to all the details of my life—the good, the bad, and the ugly—so it’s only fair.”
“That makes sense.” She nodded.
I smirked, unable to resist adding, “Plus, it will help me with my new goal of actually getting to know a woman before inviting her out of town.”
Her eyes widened, briefly shocked by what I’d said. But being quick with a comeback, she got a smirk on her lips and teased me right back by saying, “Are you trying to convince the ladies at that table over there that you’ve turned over a new leaf?”
“Partly.” I chuckled, liking that even though we barely knew each other, there was an easy energy between us. “But mostly, I’m trying to prove it to myself.”
“It is good to have our own backs, I suppose.”
“It is,” I said, thinking that as a single mom who had just moved away from her hometown with her son, she probably had to have her back more than I could guess. “So, when you’re not at the office helping with my every demand, or making McDonald’s runs with your son, what do you do for fun?”
“Honestly? Not much.” Maddie laughed softly, the warmth in her voice genuine. “Between work and being a mom, there’s not a lot of time for myself.”
“I guess I can understand that,” I said, thinking of the stories my mom had shared with me about being a single mom for that year before my stepdad came into the picture.
“But when I do manage to steal a few moments,” Maddie continued, “I like to read. And bake. Cupcakes, mostly.”
“Cupcakes, huh?” I grinned. “What’s your specialty?”
“Pumpkin chocolate chip,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “With cream cheese frosting.”
“Are you a ‘fall girlie’ then?” I asked, familiar with the small corner of the internet where women shared their love of everything pumpkin spice.
“I’d like to say that I enjoy every season,” she said, biting her lip. “But…I may go just a little overboard with the autumnal vibes once September hits.”
“Those ‘ber’ months are pretty great,” I said, having a fondness for that time of year myself.
“Are you sure you’re not a fall enthusiast?” Maddie raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Because only a fall enthusiast would use such a term.”
I chuckled. “So maybe I have a secret fall Instagram account of my own.”
“Wait, seriously?” She furrowed her brow.
“No.” I laughed. “If I did, you would know about it since you would be the one managing it for me.”
She chuckled. “I guess that sounds about right.”
“Anyway, you’ll have to bring some of your pumpkin cupcakes to the office one day,” I said. “We can have a special Autumn Equinox party or something.”
“I can’t tell if you’re joking or not…” She narrowed her eyes.
“About pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes with cream cheese frosting?” I asked. “Never.”
Before she could respond, Saylee reappeared with our food, setting the plates in front of us.
“Here we go,” Saylee said as the fragrant spices swirled up, filling the air. “Enjoy!”
“Thank you,” I said, picking up my spoon to dig in as Maddie eyed her plate.
She leaned in for a cautious sniff, her eyes wide as if unsure what she was in for.
As she took her first bite, I watched the subtle change in her expression, her pink lips parting slightly in a way that I knew I shouldn’t find attractive but did.
“Oh my gosh,” she said after a pause, her voice full of surprise. “This is incredible!”
“Told you.” I grinned, pleased by her reaction. “Once you start, there’s no going back.”
Maddie chuckled, taking another bite. “I think you might be right.”