Chapter 36 #2
“What do you two think?” She crossed her arms in front of her and basked in all of her hard work.
The room looked exquisite. It was set the same way as the last time we saw it.
The cocktail party will be held here before dinner tomorrow night.
Everything was dark, and if it wasn’t dark wood, it was a deep green or rich blue.
The curtains that covered the three-story windows were tied back with golden cords.
The room felt like it transported you to another time and another country.
The ornate carvings on the moldings and banisters spoke to the hours of work that went into them.
They appeared to have been done long ago when an appreciation for craftsmanship wasn’t so hard to come by.
The room was romantic and masculine at the same time.
The low lighting would take the edge off everyone thinking they needed to fill the available space with idle chatter and mind-numbing small talk.
“I love every single thing. It will be a perfect setting for relaxed conversations with space to spread out. The lighting is soft and elevates the room, adding a little romance. It’s perfect, Bonnie.”
“I have to agree, Bonnie. You have completely outdone yourself again,” Maddox said as he turned in a circle, taking in the room.
“I am so glad you both like it. Maddox, I have been working with the guys, and they said everything works for them. We haven’t run into any hiccups thus far between design and security.”
“If my guys say they are good, then it’s good. I trust them—they know what they are doing,” he replied, smiling at her.
We spent the next hour going through the solarium and the gala area. Everything was perfect, and I didn’t want to change a thing. After Bonnie was finished with us, I had to make a stop upstairs.
The elevator came to a stop outside the clothing department that served all the employees along with event styling, hair and makeup.
I opened the door and was immediately greeted by the seamstress.
She was ready for the final attire fitting for what I would be wearing.
A bit of time was spent measuring, pinning, and adjusting before we were finished.
I was relieved to get back into my casual attire—that provided me with slight comfort.
“We will have everything sent over to the cabin for you, Ms. Lawson.”
“Thank you so much. I appreciate everything that has done for me since I arrived.” I reached out and took her hand in mine. “Everyone has been so kind. Please, call me Joslyn.” I released her hand.
“You made the process easy, if not enjoyable. You will be beautiful, Joslyn.”
When I exited into the hall I came face to face with Ronan.
“Joslyn, are ye feeling good about tomorrow?”
“I’m nervous, but I’m sure it will be fine. I just met with Bonnie. Everything is beautiful, and the rooms flow seamlessly. The areas are so perfectly adorned. I’m excited—I do know that.”
“Dey are going to love ye. Everyone does,” he said, smiling, and I returned the gesture.
I really hadn’t meant to break his heart. It was never my intention to hurt him. He was all in. Me? I hadn’t even realized I was using him as a distraction from my pain and confusion. He was a reprieve in the moment, and I wasn’t even aware—so how could he have known. I felt terrible about that.
Maddox made me really happy. It felt natural, like he had known me forever.
He understood me even when I said nothing at all.
Ronan was searching my features for any hint of regret.
Something he could read into that would give him false hope.
I wished he would stop doing that. I wanted him to let go, not look for a foothold.
“Do you have everything you need for the upcoming events?” I asked, trying to talk about work-related things and not stray in a different direction.
“Yes, I ‘ave everything ready to go. I will be right by yer side when everyone arrives. I will be able to relay information. Ye can introduce yerself and look as though ye’ve done your ‘omework.”
“That’s great,” I said a little too enthusiastically. “I actually have been doing my homework, so hopefully I won’t make your job too difficult.”
“Good, I’m glad ye've deepened yer commitment to yer role. I am eager to see de changes ye plan to implement and de positive influence I really believe dat ye will bring to De Order.”
“I feel like you are slowly coming around to my way of thinking. I appreciate the open-mindedness. Well, I am off to meet Maddox and go through the cabins. Double-checking that everything is in order. I will see you tomorrow. Get some rest,” I said, ending the conversation.
I moved toward the elevator and hit the button a couple of times.
I didn’t turn around for fear that Ronan was still standing there, watching me.
If I turned around, he might try to accompany me.
I stared at the large steel door, willing it to open.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened on an empty elevator.
I quickly got inside and jabbed at the button for the lobby.
The doors closed, but I never looked to see if he was still there.
I didn’t want to know, because then I would overthink everything just because Maddox had gotten in my head—damn him.
Once I exited the elevator into the lobby, I pulled my phone from my pocket. I was just getting ready to text Maddox when he rounded the corner. He had a huge smile on his face as he made his way to me. I smiled back as he swept me up in his arms and spun me in a circle, planting a kiss on my lips.
“What are you so happy about?” I asked, surprised by his jovial mood.
“I just met with my guys. Alexander and Scott are both secure in their rooms. Things are coming together nicely. With the nature of this; I will take all the breaks I can get.”
“That is good news. So, what else do you have left to do?” I asked, wondering when we were going to double-check on everyone’s accommodations.
I also wanted to find out the details about the after-party he and Bonnie had referenced.
“I don’t have anything left until tomorrow morning. I need to go over the schedule with Alexander and Scott. I don’t want there to be any fuck-ups.”
“So, then we can go out to the cabins and see how they are progressing. Bringing in the groceries, extra linens, towels—and I want to see what other touches Bonnie came up with.”
“We can,” he said, grabbing my hand and walking toward the library.
We walked through the large room, the smell of leather and paper pleasantly tickling my nose. Into the solarium he kept walking—guiding me toward the back doors. Outside, we descended the stone steps to the garden. Continuing through the archway, cut into the wall of shrubs.
Only from the top of the steps and the solarium were you able to see over the hedge wall.
It was all very mysterious—the entrance wasn’t hidden at all.
From inside the garden, it felt as though you had been transported.
Pathways led off into new areas with breathtaking blooms and lush green foliage.
Each area was completely different than the one before.
Small transitions between them were filled with benches and the simplest of flowers, with nearly no color.
I could visualize how it would shine on the night of the gala.
Everything bathed in moonlight and shadow.
Cryptids around every corner, with high hedges and brilliant flowers adding color and distorting shadows.
The entire garden would have a romantic glow with the dark and dangerous blanketing the entire scene.
Maddox tugged at my hand, pulling me from my thoughts. I brought my eyes to his, and I could see him studying me.
“I was just thinking about how pretty this is going to be on the night of the gala. The garden really is beautiful.”
“Come here, I want to show you something.” He began walking with purpose—on a mission to show me something.
My hand felt tiny in his. He made me feel protected at all times.
I knew he wasn’t the biggest guy—I was just hoping the bigger ones didn’t want to hurt me either.
Maddox always made me feel like there was nothing that took precedence over me.
This was quite possibly the sexiest man I had ever laid eyes on, and he only wanted me. Talk about an ego boost.
He slowed down as we came to the center of the garden, stopping by the fountain that served as the focal point.
There were four statues that came together in the middle.
It was a rendition of each of the four humanoid cryptids.
It was breathtaking—it made me feel like what I was doing meant something.
That it was important. That people were counting on me.
“You’re watching the fountain, and I am watching you. I think my view is better.” I turned to him, and he kissed me softly.
“It’s beautiful. I feel like I am going to wake up and this whole thing will have been a dream… or a nightmare. Depends on who you ask. There is this whole other world, and I never knew. Now I am a main character, and it all just feels so surreal.”
“I hate that I played a part in shattering your perception of the world. However, now that you are in this world—right now, with me—I can’t imagine it any other way, nor do I wish to.
You are my whole world because you gave mine color and light where there was nothing but darkness and evil.
I’ve had people that I considered friends, but no one that sparked anything in me more than that.
Until I saw you in Michigan, that first time. From that moment, my fate was sealed.”
I laid my head against his chest, and he held me tightly against him. That was how we stayed for quite some time.