Chapter 20 #3
“Seriously, Nate. Do I live out of the way? I can take the car. I won’t walk.”
“You were going to walk?” My voice spikes, and there is a chance my heart stops. “Are you trying to kill me?”
She rolls her eyes, thinking I’m joking, but the mere thought of her out walking the streets this late has my anxiety through the roof.
“It’s a Thursday night in the city, and there’s still plenty of foot traffic. The sidewalks could be packed.”
“Please stop talking right now. I can’t take any more, and I don’t live out of the way.”
She freezes and squints like she can see right through me. “Dang it, Nate, you’re lying. Where do you live?” she asks innocently, but to me it’s anything but, and I’m not sure I’m ready to tell her.
When I don’t immediately answer, she slowly repeats, “Where do you live?”
I have two options: avoid the question or lie.
Since it’s almost impossible for me to lie to her, I break and let one of my truths slip.
“I live in our penthouse.” I can tell by her wide eyes and slack jaw she is beyond shocked.
“What?” she murmurs.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go downstairs and grab your bag. The car is here.”
“No.” She swallows and grabs my arm as I pass her. “It’s not nothing. You’ve lived there all this time?”
I nod. “I tried to sell it once. But it didn’t feel right.”
“Why?”
“It reminded me—” I can’t finish my sentence, not ready to bring up our past again, especially not at one in the morning.
Not when there’s a glimmer of her happiness in her eyes right now.
Because I kept our place?
I’m not sure, but I fucking love to see them sparkle, and it only makes me feel better about how she’ll react when I show her all the other things I did to keep our memory alive.
“It’s okay. I’m exhausted and not exactly emotionally stable at the moment.”
“I’m sorry, Mads. I need to get you home.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she replies, and, surprisingly, rubs her hand down my arm and interlinks our fingers.
Not a peep slips through my lips when she doesn’t let go, or when she stands close enough, her arm brushes mine in the elevator.
The little voice in the back of my head is a nuisance, reminding me she’s still engaged, but you know what? Fuck that.
For once, I’m going to be the bad guy.
She might have veered off path because of my mistakes, but she’s mine, and I’m not letting go of that any time soon.
In one swift move, I pull her to my chest, her back against me, and embrace her in my arms, holding her tightly against my body.
Her breath hitches, and her voice is barely above a whisper. “What are you doing?”
“Shh. Don’t fight me, let me hold you for a minute.”
I wait, and I wait some more…then there it is.
She sighs, and her body melts into mine. She leans her head back against my shoulder, and in this moment, everything feels perfect.
“I know I have no right to ask this,” she murmurs.
“But you will anyway,” I tease.
“Who was she?”
Huh?
“Who was who?” I look down at her eyes closed, taking a deep breath.
“Your date from a few nights ago.”
Oh.
I could play along, pretend she was a date, and remind her she’s engaged and it shouldn’t matter.
Torture her so she feels what I do, but I don’t have it in me.
“She was Matteo’s younger cousin. You remember him?” She nods. “I’ve known her my whole life, she’s like a little sister. She is going to USC for her master’s and wanted to discuss it.”
“Oh.” She pauses. “I need to tell you something, Nate.”
The elevator dings, interrupting Maddie, and at the same time, I hear a loud bang in the near distance. From Maddie’s stiff posture, so does she.
“I thought you said you were alone.”
“I was.” She squeezes my hand.
We take a few steps closer to her desk, and there is Linc, peering over Maddie’s desk. She drops my hand while I take a step forward, pushing Maddie behind me.
“Lincoln,” I bellow. “Is there a reason why you’re snooping through Madeline’s belongings?”
He stands tall, his back ramrod, as he deliberately turns toward us with a snaking smile. “I was looking for the files for the Pink Tiger project.”
“And it couldn’t wait until morning? When did you arrive back in the office?” I question.
He hesitates, and I know whatever comes out next will be a lie. “I’ve been here all night, pulling an all-nighter, same as the two of you, it seems like.”
“No, he hasn’t,” Maddie whispers for only me to hear.
“Well, we’re all going home now. The office is closed for the night, and next time you need something from anyone in this office, you ask before you go through their files.”
He looks at Maddie, then at me, with a suspicion I don’t like.
“Whatever you say, boss.”
The second he’s out of sight, my phone’s out, and I’m dialing the owner of our security company, knowing he’ll be awake since he’s in London.
“Ethan Scott,” he answers.
“Yeah. I’m aware, since I called you.”
He laughs and asks why I’m calling him so early in the morning.
“I have an issue.”
“That’s what your head of security is for.”
“I didn’t want to wake him since he has a new baby, and I need answers as soon as possible.”
“Let me grab my laptop. Hold on.”
I start pacing back and forth waiting for Ethan, trying not to freak the fuck out.
There is not one part of me that believes Lincoln, and I need to figure out what the hell his intentions are.
That’s where Ethan comes in. He owns Scott Security, a top international security firm, and he’ll have the answers I need immediately.
“All right, shoot.”
“I need you to find out exactly what time Lincoln Sutherland left tonight, what time he reentered, and how long he was standing at Madeline Cunningham’s desk.
Actually follow his footsteps through the office and find out exactly where he went and for how long he was in each place.
I also want a background check done immediately. ”
“No problem. Anything I need to be aware of?”
“Not yet,” I insisted, then hung up.
“Do you think a background check is a little overboard?”
I nearly jump when Maddie speaks, so focused on the security issue, I almost forget she’s here.
Almost.
“There is no such thing as overboard when it comes to your safety. There is something I don’t like about that guy.”
“Yeah.” She bobs her head up and down. “I agree.”
“Let’s get out of here. Before you turn into a pumpkin.”