8. Maddison #2
“Just so you know,” I tell Hunter. “If something were to happen to Hugo, Morgan would act as my niece’s representative on the board. Hugo has a similar codicil to my father. His death would effectively hand full control of the mill to Morgan.”
Hunter flexes his fingers as if recalling the feel of Hugo’s life in his hands. “Noted,” he says. “But don’t worry. I’ll make sure power goes where it belongs.”
Again, he doesn’t specify where that shift of power would be directed, but it’s not too hard to figure it out.
If the Griffins complete the takeover, the fate of the mill will be in their hands, as will mine.
I shove my cell in my purse and face forward.
My pulse races with fresh anxiety as I’m driven towards an unknown fate.
Surely what’s to come can’t be as bad as my life with Hugo. But not as bad doesn’t mean good .
I take deep, steadying breaths and my chest heaves with the effort.
That’s when I notice how my suit jacket has risen up.
It no longer sits flush against my chest and I have a clear view of my lace-clad breasts that jiggle up and down with the motion of the car.
And just as quickly, I’m aware of the two tall men sitting on either side of me.
When I glance up at Hunter, his eyes are slow to travel from my chest to my face. His moss-green eyes smolder and my cheeks scorch. My blush deepens for an entirely different reason when I turn to Mace. Of course he’s getting an eyeful too, although his look is more one of bemusement.
“Eyes front, Mace,” Hunter growls.
“Got work to do anyway,” he mutters, picking up his cell. “Thanks to you, the paperwork for this deal just got a whole lot messier.”
I force myself to relax in my seat. No matter what awaits me, Hunter promised he wouldn’t hurt me. And from what I’ve seen so far, that includes making sure no one else touches me either.
“I’ve been here before,” I say as we stand outside a single-story house that sprawls across lush landscaped gardens that extend as far as the eye can see.
The exterior of the property is red brick and timber, its angles modern and clean.
It looks square from the outside, but the house is divided into four distinct wings with a central courtyard where the previous owner, a banker and his wife, held elaborate parties.
It has none of the history of my father’s mansion, but that makes it all the more appealing.
We’re only a half hour’s drive from Brimstage, maybe a little more to the paper mill. I can’t decide if the flutters in my stomach are yet more anxiety, or excitement. This could be my new home – my first without my father or brother monitoring my every move.
Jake leaves us to park the SUV in the vast garage block that’s separate to the house, but there are still plenty of other people milling around – workers with tool belts, and others carrying boxes into the open doorway.
“Maybe you should be the one giving us a guided tour,” Reid suggests.
“You haven’t been here before?”
“We didn’t know if there’d be a deal to be struck until today,” Hunter points out. He manages a smile when he adds, “Luckily, we’re good at adapting. We’re used to our plans changing.”
“Welcome home,” a woman exclaims as she comes out of the house to greet us.
She looks to be in her fifties with salt and pepper hair pulled back into a neat bun. Her black shift dress is simple and understated, suggesting she’s a member of staff, but there’s affection in her eyes when Hunter kisses her cheek.
“Hello, Connie,” he says. “I hope we haven’t created too much work for you?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. Come in, and I’ll show you around.”
“I’m all good, I have the architect’s design,” Mace says, sweeping past Connie into the house.
“Mason,” Connie says, the single word stopping him in his tracks.
He trails back a step and kisses her cheek. “Good to see you too, Con.”
“Connie!” Reid exclaims, rushing her with a bear hug that lifts her off her feet. “Got anything to eat? I’m starving.”
She rolls her eyes at him. “After seven years, you need to ask? Turn left, go straight to the end of the corridor and follow your nose. Just leave enough for the others.”
When only Hunter and I are left, Connie’s eyes focus on me. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Maddie,” Hunter says. He shifts slightly and I can see his jaw working as he tries to figure out how to introduce me. “She’s going to be…” He takes a breath. “Our guest for a while.”
Before I can react to the stab to my heart, Hunter grabs my hand and drags me into the house. “Is there a guest room she can use?”
“Of course,” Connie answers. “Turn right. There are temporary signs tacked on all the doors.” To me, she adds, “Take your pick from the three with guest written on them.” Hunter is already pulling me along as she calls out again. “Guest 3 is nearest to Hunter’s room.”
Hunter doesn’t pause and for a fleeting moment, I imagine he’s dragging me into a bedroom so we can celebrate our engagement the way normal couples would. My stomach hollows when he stops in front of a handwritten sign that says Guest 1. He swings the door open.
“Will this one do?” he asks gruffly.
I school my emotions, not letting him see my disappointment as I step into my assigned bedroom. I wish I knew how to feel about this man. Fear and nerves are the logical response to the unknown, but primal desire fights for dominance.
Despite the chaos of work outside, the room is beautifully furnished and the bed is made. The windows look out onto the courtyard that’s crowded with olive trees and shrubs to maintain a sense of privacy. “It’s perfectly adequate.” What more can I say ?
“Good, I’ll get Jake to bring your luggage,” Hunter says, remaining on the threshold. “Once you’ve unpacked, go find Connie and she’ll feed you.”
“Who is she?” I ask before he has a chance to leave.
“She’s employed as our housekeeper, although some might describe her as our caregiver.”
He’s making a joke, but I don’t smile. “I see. And I’m your… guest?”
Hunter glances down the corridor as if assessing his escape route. He chews his lip, his body tensing as he turns his gaze back to me. With a sigh, he rests his shoulder against the door frame and crosses his arms.
“Once Ash finds out what I’ve done, this proposal will be dead in the water,” he explains. “So we have to work fast to pull something together that might be more palatable to him. A deal that suits your needs as well as ours, but one that has defined outcomes.”
My throat tightens. “And what does that mean?”
“Marrying you gives us access to the mill so we can stop it going under, and allows us time to apply enough pressure on Hugo to force him to sell,” he explains.
“But the moment we buy you and your brother out, this arrangement between us ends. As part of the divorce settlement, you’ll get your share of the proceeds along with your freedom.
And the mill will be in safe hands with us, I can promise you that. ”
I swallow hard. Hunter makes it sound like a happy ending. It should be a happy ending. I’d have freedom for the first time in my life. I don’t know why, but I just can’t feel it. “OK,” I manage.
“This is a business deal, nothing more, Maddie,” Hunter says, his eyes narrowing. “It’s the one you put on the table this morning, remember? ”
I don’t remember divorce being part of our conversation, but I try to ignore the disappointment that steals the air from my lungs.
It’s my own fault for trying to romanticize this whole situation.
What’s important is that it’s still a plan that will save the mill and keep me away from Hugo’s clutches.
But that doesn’t mean I have to let Hunter have the last say.
“The only thing I remember is that I was naked in the shower at the time with your cum all over my stomach.”
Hunter blows air from his puffed out cheeks. “Hard to forget,” he admits. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes when he adds, “But I was deadly serious when I told you I wasn’t going to ruin you.”
“Your actual words were that you wanted to ruin me.”
His expression hardens as he straightens up. In two strides, he’s in front of me, grabbing me by the lapels of my jacket. “Wanted but wouldn’t.”
“But we’d be married, Hunter,” I say. “I’m pretty sure a husband can’t ruin a wife’s virtue.”
“This one isn’t going to take that risk,” he growls.
“You sure about that?”
His eyes rove down to my lips, then drop to the gap he’s opened up between my chest and my suit jacket. He releases one of the lapels and slides his hand inside my black lace bra. My groan transforms to a hiss when he takes my pebbled nipple between his finger and thumb and pinches hard.
“Don’t put me to the test, little bird.”
I’m not expecting the thrill of pleasure that accompanies the sharp pain, and my thighs clench. I’m pretty sure my clean underwear is already soaked through. “Why did you change your mind about marrying me?”
He palms my breast and rubs his thumb over my sensitized peak as he considers his answer. “Because you’re a puzzle I want to solve.”
“And when you have?”
He shrugs, withdrawing his hand. “We both move on to a new game,” he says, stepping away. “But I promise you, Maddie. When our business is done, you’ll still be a virgin.”
I glare at him. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Hunter. Plans change,” I say, throwing his words back at him.
Hunter’s in the corridor, a smirk on his face. “Game on,” he says and before I can respond, his attention is drawn to noise coming from the entrance hall. “Maddie’s in here, Jake.”
As the sound of luggage wheels grows nearer, Hunter casts one more glance in my direction, mischief flickering in his eyes but he says no more. Neither do I as I step into the corridor.
Once I see Hunter disappear around a corner, I greet Jake.
“Thank you, Jake. My room’s the one with Guest 3 written on it,” I tell him, pointing to the bedroom next to Hunter. Game on, asshole.