Chapter 36
The next morning, I woke up to my alarm going off in my ear.
It was eight, and I needed to ensure everything was good to go for tomorrow when the other heads of this organization would descend upon us with their families and security teams in tow.
I was certain they would have me under a microscope, examining every move and comparing me to my grandfather.
I had no understanding of the man that my grandfather was when he ran things in the company of these individuals.
That person was a stranger to me, and I was constantly reminded of that.
These people knew a side of him that I never would.
The side that he went to great lengths to keep hidden from those that loved him the most.
I turned off the alarm and lay there staring at the ceiling.
I was just now noticing that it was the same color as the walls.
How had I not realized that before now? The room looked so much bigger because of it.
What the hell was I doing? I needed to get out of bed and get back on track.
I knew there were so many things that needed to get done today, and my anxiety was beginning to set in.
What if they all hated me? These weren’t just some group of humans deciding who would lead the board.
I was born into this role, and I knew nothing about it.
They were going to see right through me.
I knew it. They would hate me and want to have me removed.
I was going to be an utter failure—my grandfather would be so disappointed.
Maybe if he had told me. Maybe if he had trained me.
Shit, even if I had known this all existed, I would have been better prepared.
I had a million different scenarios running through my head, and none of them were good.
The bedroom door opened, and Maddox walked in carrying a steaming cup of coffee. He set it down on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I don’t know what you are thinking about, but you are literally giving me anxiety from the kitchen. No one is hunting you, so what the fuck are you freaking out about?”
“Can you read my mind?” I blurted out, feeling like my mind had been invaded without my knowledge.
“No, but I am an apex predator, and you are giving off prey vibes. Like you’re wounded and something is hunting you. It’s really hard to explain.”
A sense of relief washed over me. I had enough issues without someone else inside my brain poking around. I had a hard time keeping my thoughts to myself as it was, and I didn’t need someone to hear them anyway.
“I’m just nervous about tomorrow, and I am not trying to apply for a job with a bunch of harmless humans. These people could end me if they choose to.”
“Well, first of all, humans are anything but harmless. Second, none of these people will end you. To even try would be utter suicide. Lastly, this isn’t a job interview.
No one can take this job from you. We can teach you, prepare you, train you.
We cannot remove you from your position. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Except falling on my face or having a wardrobe malfunction.”
“Now who’s being dramatic?” he said as he leaned forward and planted a kiss on my forehead. “Are you going to stay in bed all day worrying, or are you going to get dressed and do boss lady shit?” He cocked his head to the side and smiled. “What’s it gonna be, Gorgeous?”
I raised my eyes to meet his. “I’m going to get dressed and do boss lady shit?”
“Are you asking me a fucking question right now?! Joslyn, what the fuck are we doing?”
“Boss lady shit.”
“What?! I can’t hear you!!”
“Boss lady shit!!!”
“Fuck yeah we are! Well, you are. You are doing boss lady shit. I am doing terrifying killing-machine bodyguard shit.” He fumbled with his words, and I tackled him. I climbed on top of his large frame, straddling him.
“I love you. Now let’s do this shit.”
I planted a huge, exaggerated kiss on his lips with my hands pressed firmly to the sides of his face.
Ending the kiss, I jumped off of him, scrambling from the bed.
My feet hit the floor, and one of my knees buckled.
I grabbed the bedpost. Oh yeah, I forgot.
Maddox almost broke my vagina last night.
My aching muscles quickly gave me a delicious reminder.
Today was going to be a casual day where clothing was concerned.
Maddox sat up and gave me a wicked smile. “Oh shit, I did that, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, fuck you. You definitely ain’t getting laid today. I have to walk correctly tomorrow. They don’t need one more thing to judge me on.”
“They would be jealous. You don’t know cryptids at all.”
I shut the bathroom door as Maddox laughed his way out of the bedroom.
He was enjoying every second of my suffering.
I sat down on the toilet slowly, my thigh muscles giving out halfway down and dropping my ass onto the seat.
I peed for what seemed like forever, and when I went to wipe, I realized how swollen and sensitive I was.
It hurt to wipe. Now to stand up. My body was screaming at me and not in a good way.
“Can you bring me some damn ibuprofen? I’m dying here.”
A few moments later, Maddox entered the bathroom with a glass of water and medication in hand. He also had a container labeled Witch Hazel Pads. He set everything down and chuckled as he kissed my forehead again.
“I love you,” he said as he walked back out of the bathroom.
I stood in front of the mirror, examining myself.
I looked well-rested in spite of how my body felt.
I knew once the pain reliever kicked in and I started moving around, I would be fine.
To be fair, last night was well worth the pain.
If I was being honest, I didn’t think mediocre sex was even a thing Maddox knew diddly-squat about.
He was always willing to serve up a mind-blowing orgasm, and who was I to stifle that fire?
I would much rather feed it oxygen and let it become my own personal inferno.
It felt really warm in the bathroom all of a sudden, but all the signs pointed to my train of thought, which had completely derailed.
I was meant to be getting ready, and here I was fantasizing about a man who currently had me unable to walk correctly.
Life was hard, and so was my hot ass boyfriend any time I wanted him to be, and I was loving every second of it.
Picking up the pills, I put them in my mouth, taking a sip of water to wash them down. Then I proceeded to pull my hair up into a ponytail. Maddox would be slightly irritated by that, but he would get over it. Anticipation will make it better—if that was even possible.
I applied very little makeup and went back into the bedroom. I picked out a pair of white dress capris and a sleeveless silk blouse that was a beautiful shade of blue and had a split neckline. I slid on a pair of matching canvas shoes.
Whoever was in charge of picking out these clothes is definitely worth whatever we pay them—possibly more.
I was willing to bet it was Bonnie. That woman was a wonder, and I think that might very well be an understatement.
She gave me good vibes and that was something not many people could do in such a short amount of time.
I grabbed the glass of water that I left sitting in the bathroom and my coffee from the nightstand and exited the bedroom.
I dumped the water down the sink and took my first sip of coffee—that was now barely warm.
Maddox set a full coffee cup down in front of me and removed the other from my hands while I stared at it.
“I’m sure it’s cold. I made you another cup.”
I smiled at him and pushed my lips into a pucker. He met my lips, deepening the kiss, his tongue entering my mouth. I worked my tongue against his for a few moments before I pulled back, looking up at him.
“You know you’re dead wrong for that ponytail, don’t you?” He reached up and tugged on it gently, pulling my head back. “You will pay for that eventually.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time. Is that how you say that?” I smiled at him coyly, and he let out a frustrated laugh.
“You are going to make me crazy.”
“That is the goal.” I picked up the fresh cup from the counter and stared at him over the rim of my cup as I blew on the hot liquid.
“Maybe I am the one who’s in trouble.”
“Only time will tell. Right now, we have to get to work. Remember—Boss Lady shit,” I said, taking a sip from the cup. He smiled and made a grand sweeping motion toward the front door of the cabin.
“After you, my lady.”
When we reached the main building and made our way inside, it became apparent very quickly that we were preparing for something big.
Maintenance employees were on ladders and lifts, cleaning light fixtures, and changing bulbs.
Cleaning employees were bustling around with mops, brooms, and vacuum cleaners all over the enormous lobby and reception area.
No doubt Bonnie would be having them repeat this very process first thing tomorrow morning.
Sarah was stationed at the reception desk where she normally resided.
“Ms. Lawson, Mr. Hale—good morning,” she chirped from the desk.
“Sarah, please call me Joslyn. How are you doing this morning? Are you excited about tomorrow?”
“Sorry Joslyn. I am very excited about tomorrow, but I am literally bursting over the gala on Thursday.”
“I know, I can’t wait to see all the dresses,” I said, adding to her excitement.
“Everyone will be gorgeous—no doubt,” she smiled, and Maddox and I continued to the library.
We entered through the double doors and found Bonnie standing in the middle of the room, shouting at a maintenance man that was currently cleaning the chandelier hanging in the center of the room.
As soon as she caught sight of us, she headed in our direction with open arms. She hugged each of us and turned around to examine the room.