Chapter 16
Maddie
Addie: Outside in five
Coming
I shrug on my jacket, close my eyes, take a deep, soothing breath, and open my arms wide. Facing the mirror, just like my motivational book instructed, I recite six affirmations to start my day:
I am worthy.
I am successful.
I am smart.
I am competent.
I am in control of my emotions.
I am in control of my reality.
One more breath. In through my nose, out through my mouth. I try to release the nerves clawing at me about my first day at M-Squared. Putting aside who I will be working for.
Nate and Leo’s company is one of the fastest-growing innovative architecture firms in the city, and a place like this on my résumé is worth more than my insecurities.
Still, if I’m being honest, it makes me feel equally anxious.
It’s been years, ten to be exact, since we broke up, and I’m doing fine now.
It’s all fine.
Fine.
God, listen to me.
Corey: Good luck today, sweetheart. Love you. xo
Great, perfect timing.
My phone dings again, and thankfully, it’s Ads.
Addie: Where are you? You’re going to be late!
Oh shoot.
I grab my bag, shut off the lights, and enter the elevator. I sprint through the lobby, waving to the staff as I go.
Addie is parked at the curb in her mom’s blacked-out Range Rover. “Let’s go, Maddie Grace Cunningham. Traffic is going to be a fucking bitch.”
A mom dragging her twin girls behind her on the sidewalk huffs at Addie’s bluntness, while I’m so used to her now, I don’t even flinch.
I slide into the front seat, leaning over to quickly hug her. “You’re the one who insisted on driving me across town like it’s the first day of school. Even I know no one drives to work in the city.”
“Rich people use drivers.”
“Keyword: rich people.”
She side-eyes me. “Like you couldn’t afford it now?”
I ignore that, eyeing her outfit, which is hanging on by a thread. “Is this the same tie-dye sweatshirt you used to wear at camp?”
“You know it. It’s wild how I still fit in it. Looks good, right?”
“Looks like you pulled it out of a dumpster.”
“It’s nostalgic.”
“It smells.”
“Like sweet, sweet memories.”
We both laugh. “Don’t you ever change, Adelaide Sinclair.” I change the music to the country station, where Luke Bryan belts his new top hit.
She snickers. “You’ve changed enough for the both of us.”
That makes me pause, twisting my body in her direction. “What does that mean?”
She points to me but quickly puts her hands safely back on the wheel. “You’re still my sweet, thoughtful Southern girl underneath. But to everyone else? You’re headstrong. A little hard. Have a tiny mean streak. And where the hell did your accent go?”
“I have an accent,” I say, adding a little extra drawl.
“Maybe to a New Yorker. But I’ve known you for fifteen years. I used to make you repeat sentences because it sounded like you had marbles in your mouth when you got excited. Now? You’re crystal clear.”
A flutter of frustration rises, but I push it down.
She’s not wrong.
Architecture is a male-dominated field. Women work five times harder to claim their space, and I knew one day, when I made it to New York, it would be tough enough.
Walking into a conference room with a thick, negatively stereotyped accent would do me no favors, and I’ve been trying to tone it down.
“All I’m saying is start today as yourself. You didn’t get the job for who you’re trying to hide behind. You got it because of your brains and talent.”
Addie pumps up the music as the city flies by, weaving through downtown traffic, headed to SoHo. I’m thankful she doesn’t press on about it, because I have no comeback.
I take in every detail as we go.
The dog walkers, the shop owners opening for the day, the men in crisp, tailored suits, and the women in high heels expertly dodging foot traffic like they’ve trained for it.
There’s a man, setting up a speaker on the corner, a bedazzled microphone in hand.
This is my life now.
I did it. I made it to the New York grind.
Crazy. Chaotic. And absolutely charming.
“Here it is.”
My first glance at M-Squared is ruined by another text.
Corey: Madeline?
Corey: Five days in New York, and you’re already ignoring my texts. This is going to be a problem. Call me later to discuss.
Ugh.
Addie frowns at my expression and leans over to see what’s caused my annoyance.
She tuts, shaking her head. “You need to end it. And what are you, a business acquisition? ‘Call me later to discuss.’”
“He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No.” She looks me square in the eye. “But you did.”
“I thought you said you’d drop this.”
Her face softens, taking my hand in hers. “I know, but you were supposed to think about it long and hard, Maddie.”
The second the words are out of her mouth, I raise my brows. “Long and hard?”
We dissolve into laughter.
“You’re so immature.”
“Me?” I squeal. “You laughed.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She ducks her head toward the window. “You ready?”
“Nope.” I follow her gaze. “Wow.”
“They’ve done well for themselves, huh?”
I nod. Words won’t do justice to how amazed I am at their success.
They own the entire building and have recently removed their bottom-floor tenants due to the rapid growth of their company.
The building isn’t huge; it’s tall but slim, almost like an oversized townhouse. It has a glass front and metal trim, revealing the building’s rawness, including exposed beams and concrete floors.
It’s precisely what I would expect from them.
My alarm goes off, and I gather my things. It’s time.
“Drinks tonight. Don’t forget.” Addie kisses my cheek.
“I won’t.”
I step out, and she rolls down the window. “Proud of you, Maddie Grace!”
“You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.”
She really is.
Addie might be loud, brash, and a lot quirky, but somewhere along the way—maybe when Nate broke my heart or when Camila died—she went from best friend to mother hen, sister, and therapist.
She plays every role without missing a beat.
That’s why she insisted on driving me. Even after being out at an art show until two in the morning, she knew I needed the extra support.
I blow her a kiss and walk through to the security desk. I show my ID, and there are instructions for me to go up to the fourth floor and see Nadia in HR.
I’m glad for the swift intro and directions. It leaves no time for nerves.
“Hi.” I smile at the pretty, petite girl behind the reception desk.
“Madeline Cunningham?”
I nod. “That’s me.”
“Lovely to meet you. Follow me, Nadia is ready for you.”
After completing the onboarding process, filling out all the paperwork, and receiving all my IT equipment, Nadia escorts me to my desk.
“This is you, here.” She points to a large corner desk. It’s still part of the open floor plan, but it seems grander than everyone else’s. “Not a bad view. Huh?”
We’re on the sixth and top floor, so the views of Mercer and Spring are unbelievable. My attention turns back to the main floor, where I’m separated from the others.
“I love it. May I ask why I’m sitting over here?”
“Most people sitting in the bullpen are intern architects, designers, and junior designers.” She points to the far corner, where a desk is separated, just like mine. “That’s Linc, he’s in a similar position to you.”
“Oh, okay.” I set my bag down and run my fingertips over the glass desk. I shyly grin at Nadia, watching me with a soft, motherly look. “Sorry. It still feels surreal.”
She rubs her hand up my arm. “It’s an incredible company to work for. Leo asked to see you when you’re ready. I can bring you now or come back later.”
“Now is great,” I beam.
I follow her across the sixth floor. She points out the bathrooms, kitchen, and all the essentials. “Here he is, on the same floor as you.”
“Thank you so much, Nadia. I’ll drop off the rest of the paperwork tomorrow.”
“No rush, by the end of the week is fine.” She backs up, waving, “If you need anything, my extension is in the pamphlet, but it’s 1-1-4-4.”
“Easy enough. Thanks again.”
I turn toward Leo’s door, and I see him through his glass-walled office, sitting at his desk, staring at me with a big goofy smile plastered across his face, but the person sitting across from him is the one who puts the smile on my face.
“Knock, knock.”
Big brown eyes that remind me so much of my best friend’s shine bright as I walk through the office, right toward her.
“Aunt Maddie!”
“Claudina.” She throws herself at me, her pigtails whip me in the face, but I still easily pick her up and snuggle her close.
“I wanted to surprise you on your first day. Were you surprised?”
“Totally.” I pull her in tighter. “I missed you, little one.”
“I’m not little anymore.” She giggles.
That sound warms my heart. “You’re not, are you? You’re almost seven, but you’ll always be my little one.”
“I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Guilt eats at me. “I’m sorry. Now I’m living in New York, and I’ll see you all the time.”
“Yay. Can you come over for dinner tonight?”
I chuckle at her enthusiasm. “How about I call your dad today, and we’ll set something up.”
She nods and gives me a thumbs-up.
“Speaking of, we need to leave before he calls and yells at me,” Leo adds.
I frown, confused, and then it hits me. “Did you play hooky from school to see me?”
“Hooky? What’s that?”
“When you miss school and you’re not sick.”
She hunches her shoulders. “Yup. I played hooky. Uncle Leo said I could see you.”
“You’re not playing hooky, and let’s not tell anyone. You missed two hours, maybe three. Let’s go before it’s even more.”
Leo rounds his desk and pulls me into a bear hug. “I’m so glad you’re here, Madeline.”
“Same,” I murmur, then my eyes trace the wall behind him, and my body goes stiff in his arms.
He runs his hand up and down my back as I catch my breath. “Do you like it?”
“Leo…” I murmur. “It’s beautiful.”
“Why are you crying?” Claudina interrupts us.
I point toward the butterfly mural. “Happy tears, Claud.”
She smiles from ear to ear. “That’s for my mommy.”
It sure is.