Chapter 4 #2
“Matt,” Madi touched his arm.
“She’s your mom and I want to sign it.”
The muscles in his jaw bunched up as he ground his teeth in anger.
“Why? Why would you even think I would allow you to sign this? I don’t care about the money. Whatever I have is yours, poppet. We’re not discussing this anymore.”
“Why are you so angry, Matt? Anyone in your position would expect their future spouse to agree to a prenuptial. Why is this so infuriating to you?”
“Because I don’t doubt your love for me. You don’t have to prove anything to me and frankly it’s quite insulting that you’re considering this. If you sign it, you’re basically implying our marriage is going to end in divorce and I need to protect my wealth, myself, from you.” Matt’s outburst was more impassioned than he wanted.
He took a few deep breaths to collect himself.
“It may give her some form of peace.” Madi held her hand out for the papers.
“I want to sign them. Please.”
It was the please that did it, and the soulful gaze she levelled him with.
When she looked at him like that…
there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.
She genuinely wanted to sign the papers.
She wasn’t furious or offended, maybe hurt, but she hid it well.
Why would he expect her to act any differently than she was now?
He was fully aware of the person she was.
Her innate desire to keep everyone happy was shining through.
Her general sweetness made him feel jaded, old and jaded.
Here she stood, willing to overlook the unpleasantness of his mother’s demands, actually defending his mother’s actions.
God.
She was the kindest person he’d ever known.
But how long would that last?
How long before being around his family would taint her, change the woman she was?
He had put her in a position where instead of her yielding to her own family, she was now doing it for his.
She had stood up to her beloved family for him and he feared she didn’t even recognize that she was putting herself into the same sort of situation with his family once again.
He’d be damned before he permitted that to happen.
Matt handed over the papers and a smile lit up her face.
He needed to speak with his parents tonight.
Clear things up for once and for all.
He wouldn’t let their mistrust affect his relationship.
He watched broodingly as she walked back to the desk and grabbed a pen before signing the papers.
“May I have those, poppet?” Matt held his hand out as she turned around.
His face was a neutral mask and she eyed him suspiciously.
Matt cracked a small smile to reassure her.
“Why?” she queried, even more guarded.
Hmm, it seemed she was getting better at reading him.
“So I can give them to my mother, of course.”
“Promise you won’t do something dramatic like tear them up.”
Matt managed to keep the relaxed smile on his face.
She was definitely getting better at reading him.
He had planned to do exactly that.
“Promise me, Matt.”
“I promise.” he agreed reluctantly.
Her smile widened as she handed over the signed papers.
She glanced at his watch and stepped closer to him.
“It’s almost the New Year. Are we good? I know I said some things before coming here and I’m - are we good?”
With his free hand Matt cupped her cheek, gently stroking her soft skin.
“Of course, you silly woman. I can never stay mad at you, not with these lips of yours.”
She gave him an exaggerated pout and he claimed her mouth in a rough kiss.
Hard and forceful, he wanted to brand her lips with his own; remind her they were meant to be together.
She made a little sound, the one which signified her growing desire.
He delighted in the noises that came from her.
Knowing he was the one, the only one who got to hear them, who was the cause of them…
bloody hell.
She called to that possessive masculine beast that dwelled inside him.
“We should stop now, poppet.” Matt said as he dragged his mouth away.
His eyes fell to her moist lips, slightly swollen from the roughness of his kiss.
“Yes,” he murmured, running his thumb over her sensuous bottom lip.
“We need to stop before things get out of hand.”
“Until later?” she teased breathlessly.
“Mhmm. Let’s go downstairs before I change my mind.” he ordered as he put some distance between them.
With the papers in one hand and her dainty hand in the other, they left the bedroom and made their way downstairs.
Most of the guests were outside on the wide expanse of lawn at the back of his parents’ home.
The fireworks display was due to start at midnight and Matt knew it would be impressive.
His father always ensured he got the best.
“Shall we head out back to see the fireworks?” Matt asked as they wandered down the hallways.
He slipped the prenuptial agreement into the inner pocket of his jacket.
Madi stopped in front a painting on the wall, eyes wide with awe.
“Is this Degas a copy too, Matt? The first time I came here you said your dad keeps the originals in his vault.”
Matt nodded.
“I did, but it’s the original - don’t touch it!”
She snatched her hand back at once and Matt laughed at her expression.
“My hands are clean.” she argued.
Matt slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“I don’t doubt that but it’s the original and my father has a high-tech security system rigged behind the paintings, poppet. Whenever he has the originals on display it’s turned on. You did see the security guards meandering about, didn’t you? They’re not here for the important guests, they’re here to make sure no one takes something they shouldn’t.”
She let out a scandalized snort and Matt laughed again.
“Rich people steal?” she mocked dryly.
“Of course they do. Just because we don’t carry guns and wear balaclavas doesn’t mean we aren’t capable of doing highly suspect things. We tend to do it via deals with stocks and shares worth millions. Fine print, poppet, you can get away with a lot in the fine print.” he drawled.
She pulled back, eyes narrowed into brown slits.
“Have you ever done anything like that?”
Matt smiled sweetly at her.
“Would you report me to the relevant authorities if I have?”
Madi chewed her lower lip, gaze returning to the painting.
“Have you forgotten what I said the night of that auction? You’re damned straight I would, buster. I’m not getting done. There’s such a thing called guilt by association and I told you before, I’m too short to go to jail. They’ll pass me around like toilet paper.”
Matt choked on his breath at her flippant words.
“God! You do make me laugh.”
“You haven’t answered the question though.” she reminded him.
Matt also stared at the painting, a reflective air surrounding him.
“You know, growing up we always felt their possessions meant more to them than we ever did.” He smiled when she snuggled closer to him, leaning up to press a soft kiss against his cheek.
Matt tightened his hold on her, moving them away from the painting.
“Let’s go watch the fireworks.”
“Mum, Dad,” Matt came up behind his parents.
“A private word in the study please.” He turned on his heels and headed out the grand salon.
He had left Madi in the capable hands of his sister after the fireworks display, although he’d caught a glimpse of her resigned expression when Hannah started discussing their spa day.
She had mouthed ‘bastard’ to him as he walked away and a wink in her direction was his only response.
He was a bastard, no doubt about that, but she would never see that side of him.
He wanted to forever remain her knight and right now he had some knightly duties to attend to.
It was quarter of an hour before his parents entered the private study.
His mother avoided his eyes, while his father clapped him on the back before heading towards the drinks cabinet.
“A spot of whiskey, Matthew?”
“No thank you.” Matt observed his mother as his father poured a drink for himself.
She was still a beautiful woman and he could never understand why the relationship between his parents had gotten to this stage.
Who had caused the first hurt?
Who had broken the foundation of their marriage?
He had seen countless pictures in the family albums of them before Hannah’s birth.
They used to be in love, it was clear to see, but something had changed.
He was angry with her, of course, but she was his mother and he loved her dearly.
“Mum,” Matt called to her, his tone was gentle.
Portia sighed and raised blue eyes towards him.
She plastered a bright smile on her face and smoothed a manicured hand over her coifed blonde hair.
“Are you enjoying the party, darling?” she asked.
He nodded, holding her gaze.
“Have you had a chance to speak to Roger, son?” William queried as he sipped his whiskey.
“I want you and Adam to remind him we got him to where he is and we can certainly return him to the lowly position we found him in. The fool thinks he’s beyond our reach due to his government contracts, contracts he wouldn’t have gotten without my intercession.”
Matt ignored his father and asked, “Why, Mum?”
“Why what?” William glanced at his wife and son, suddenly aware of the unspoken tension between them.
He took another sip of his whiskey before shooting a hard stare at his wife.
“What have you done now, Portia? I hope it has nothing to do with Madi not conforming to tonight’s dress code. It’s just a bloody dress.”
Portia turned cold eyes towards him, her face quickly filled with something quite close to hatred.
That shocked Matt, he’d never seen his mother look at his father in such a manner.
Then she turned back to Matt and her features softened.
“You’re my son and I did what I felt was necessary.” she answered.
Matt reached inside his tuxedo jacket and pulled out the papers.
“What’s that?” his father asked, striding over to him.
Matt kept his eyes on his mother.
“She signed them, you know. I didn’t want her to but she begged me to let her sign them.”
“Sign what?” William was getting irritated.
He hated being left out of the loop and sent another hard look in his wife’s direction.
What had she done now?
“Madi loves me, Mum,” Matt declared.
“And I love her. More than anything. She doesn’t care about my wealth, in fact, sometimes I think she’s actually disgusted by it. She doesn’t care that I’m a Bradley-”
“What in God’s name are you two talking about?” William slammed his drink down and held his hand out to Matt.
“What are those papers?”
“Did you agree with this too, Dad?”
“Agree with what, son?”
It was obvious his mother had done this on her own.
Matt brushed past his father and walked up to her with the signed papers held out for her to take.
“All she wants is acceptance, Mum,” Matt explained.
“She signed these so you wouldn’t worry what her intentions are. She defended you, defended the reasoning behind your demand that she sign this agreement.”
Portia held her chin up defiantly.
“She’s a smart girl, Matthew. I’m sure she knew what your reaction would be. If she truly wanted me to believe she has no designs on your wealth then she would have signed them when I gave them to her, the moment I asked her to. Not go running to you-”
“Madi is like a little girl desperately seeking approval from a mother figure,” Matt cut her off curtly.
“But she came to me first because she knows if I had found out, and trust me, I would have found out; that I would be livid! How dare you ask this of her? If you’re worried about my inheritance, don’t be. I have my own damned money. I don’t need or want a penny from you. All that I have, she’s welcomed to it. I am 37 bloody years old, not a child. You have a choice, Mother,” Matt knew she hated when they referred to her as such.
“I am giving you a choice right now. Support me, or stay out of my life. I will not tolerate any more of this. Madi is going to be my wife and if you find the thought of that unbearable, stay away from us.”
Portia opened her mouth.
“Do not say a word.” William exploded, pointing a finger at her.
“Not one bloody word.” The room fell silent after his outburst and William ran a shaking hand through his hair.
He glanced at his youngest, taking a deep calming breath before he spoke.
“Matthew, son, whatever your mother has done-”
“Stop, Dad, just stop,” Matt shook his head wearily.
“You both act like you’re better than everyone else because you have money and a good family name. I do too. You raised us that way because it’s all you know and I don’t blame you for that. It is what it is,” he paused there, a tiny smile ghosting over his lips at his use of Madi’s words.
“But being with her has changed me to some degree and I like the man I am with her. I don’t want to be at war with my family, but I want you to know this; Madi has sacrificed her family for me and I will do the same for her if I have to.”
His mother gasped, the tears slipped down her face as she grabbed his arm tightly.
“Matty, you can’t mean that.”
“I do, Mum.” He reached up to wipe the line of moisture leaking out her eyes.
Then he took her hands and placed the signed documents in them.
“Now take this vile piece of paper and if you love me like you profess to, you’ll tear it up. I won’t, because Madi made me promise not to. She makes me happy and I can honestly say she’s the only one who ever has.”
“Portia.” William’s voice was cold.
If looks could kill his wife would already be six feet under.
She twisted her head in his direction as Matt stepped away from her.
William narrowed his grey eyes at her.
“Portia.”
She held the papers in her hand then slowly tore them up.
William visibly relaxed, hoping his wife’s action would appease their youngest.
He watched as his son nodded once before turning on his heels and heading for the door.
Matt paused and said, “Madi and I will be leaving now. Good night.”
Then he was gone.
William rounded on his wife as soon as the door closed.
“Are you out of your bloody mind, woman?” he hissed.
“Did I not warn you about meddling in Matthew’s relationship? All you’ve managed to do is push him further away from us and closer to her. Goddamn it! My father was right about you. Your stupidity knows no bounds.”
“Fuck you, William.” Portia replied, shocking him into silence.
It was a rare occurrence for a swear word to leave her lips.
“You’re the stupid one and due to your lack of action our son is already lost to us. You were too blind to see that months ago he was becoming more and more attached to that woman. You stood by and did nothing to stop this farce from getting to this stage. You’re his father, his father, and you should have spoken to him about this from the very start. Instead you left me no choice but to try other avenues to protect our son. He is hers now and because you wanted to bide your bloody time, it is too late to do anything about it now. I am surrounded by spineless fools! I went to Louisa Gilliford, hoping she could get through to Matthew considering their longstanding relationship but she was afraid of his anger. He’d warned her months ago about interfering in his love life. Spineless! Why do you think an invitation for tonight was not extended to the Gillifords? She’s a spineless coward. It’s obvious that Madison has more backbone than you both combined. At least she’s willing to risk everything for our son! God. This is a mess.” Portia stormed over to the desk and grabbed William’s glass before downing the contents.
She glared at the man who fathered her children.
“Portia,” he began in a strained voice but she held her hand up, silencing him.
“There’s nothing for it now, William. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go speak to my future daughter-in-law before she leaves, to curry her favour in the hope that she doesn’t turn my youngest son against me. I shan’t be staying here tonight. Make sure the staff complete their cleaning duties after the party and remind Hannah to contact the caretaker of our French property tomorrow. The girls are planning a ski trip with their friends and for God’s sake make your father take his pills in the morning.”
“Portia! What do you mean you’re not staying here tonight? Where will you go?” William asked in shock.
“Anywhere,” she drawled, arching a well-defined eyebrow at him as she moved towards the door.
“As long as it’s away from you.”
The door slammed loudly behind her and William stared at the dark wood.
What in God’s name had just happened in this room?