Chapter 24 #2
“Tell your brother thanks for sending them,” she mumbles around a mouthful. “These are so fucking good.”
I take a bite and nod.
When I told my brother we were having a girls’ day, he had wine and our favorite cookies delivered an hour later.
Speaking of…four twenty-five. “His game is starting. Where’s the remote?”
“I don’t know, but here’s your phone. It’s been vibrating under my butt.”
I look at her deadpan. “I’ve been looking for this for an hour.”
“Thought maybe you stored your vibrators in the seat cushions.” She chuckles.
I throw a pillow at her. “What is wrong with you?”
I read the messages coming through Cherry’s private page; I’m floored and pass my phone to Ads.
Her eyes bulge. “Who is this commission for?”
I shrug. “No clue. They’re anonymous too.”
There’s an inquiry through a third-party art dealer, requesting a three-foot-high glass horse head, where the mane is made to look like it’s blowing in the wind.
It would be one of my biggest pieces to date.
I’m honored, but this would stretch my abilities to the max.
“You could negotiate for a shit ton of money.” She hands me back my phone.
I nod, absentmindedly, and my mind races through the logistics. I’m not sure I could create this in the shared studio I use now.
“I’d have to carve out more time than I work now, it would be tough. I’m already stretched thin, though it would be pretty dang cool.”
“I could help.”
“Really?” I perk up. “How?”
“Negotiate for you. Find better working conditions. I’ll be your liaison.” She takes a slow sip of wine. “My parents are easing off work lately, and I’ve been wondering what that means for me.”
“Adelaide, seriously, I would love for you to help me. I don’t know if I could hire you full-time, since I’ve had very little time to dedicate to glassmaking lately, but we could figure something out.” I bounce on the sofa. “This is so exciting.”
“All right, calm down.” She laughs. “Send me the dealer’s contact. I might even know him.”
I put my glass down and pull her into a hug. “I love you.”
“Samsies.”
I grin. “I was thinking…whatever I make from this piece, I could donate it to the Building Unity charity. For Nate and Leo. Anonymously, of course.”
My phone buzzes in my hand again. This time, it’s my personal line.
“You have your Nate face on.”
“I’ll answer him later,” I murmur, tucking it away and curling into her side.
She wraps an arm around me. “You need to talk to him, Maddie Grace.”
“I know.” My voice is quiet. “I will. I’ll make it right.”
It’s 10:10 a.m., twenty minutes before I meet with Nate and Amara regarding their London project, and my nerves are skyrocketing through the roof.
I’ve been blowing him off for the last few days, all because I’m a coward.
I can’t let this go on. It’s time we talk, and we should do it before we sit through an hour long meeting.
I owe him that.
I round the corner and blow out all my nerves; no mantra from any book I’ve read is going to get me through this conversation.
Lizzy’s desk is empty, but I can see from the propped-open door that Nate is not alone.
All the brothers are here. Harrison and Sebastian are lounging on Nate’s tufted brown leather couch, and Leo is peering over his shoulder.
I stand off to the side, watching for a moment, not meaning to eavesdrop, only I’m totally guilty, since my legs are glued to the floor, and I’m not walking away.
“She’s hardly spoken to me.” The words are barely audible, but Nate’s tone alone tells me everything I need to know.
He’s talking about me…and he’s not wrong.
Leo looks intently at something playing. “So, to get your fix, you’re watching her on the security footage? HR would have a field day if they knew.” Leo shakes his head, then his eyes widen. “Oh damn.”
“Fuck off,” Nate grumbles.
His fingers are flying fast against the keys, trying to push Leo away at the same time.
“What are you two idiots doing?” Seb stands and walks over, towering over Leo. His eyes flicker down to Nate, then turn to Leo, smirking, matching his brother’s teasing expression.
“Why the hell won’t this shut off? I’m firing whoever installed this piece of shit system today.
” Nate’s fingers are still continuously banging on the keys until Leo places his hands on the back of his chair and, then, with the help of the wheels, swiftly pulls him back while Seb leans in, getting a better look.
“Damn,” he hisses. “No wonder why you miss her so much.”
I stand on the tips of my toes to try and get a better look.
What the hell do they see?
“You two are sick,” Nate spits. “She’s like a sister to you.”
Leo waggles his brows. “Like being the operable word. The way those black lace panties have my dick tingling proves she’s definitely not my sister.”
“A-fucking-men.” Seb leans in closer.
Lace panties? What the hell are they looking at?
“Get your fucking eyes off her!” Nate shouts, finally ripping away from Leo’s hold, pushing him in the chest, causing him to fly back on his ass. He’s chuckling like a madman, lying on the floor in his three-piece suit like he has not a care in the world, only riling Nate up more.
Harrison looks up from his phone, which has been keeping him occupied, frowning at Leo. “What are you going on about?”
Leo looks back over his shoulder, a sinister smile still in place. “Nate’s stalking Maddie, and his screen is frozen on her bending over, with her whole ass on display.
“In a black, sexy-as-fuck thong,” Seb adds.
My eyes widen in horror. What?
Oh. My. God.
I could die of embarrassment, right here, right now.
Harrison shakes his head in disbelief, ignoring the other three whom I’m going to kill when I get my hands on them, then continues whatever he’s doing on his phone.
See, he’s sensible…that is, until he proves me wrong, and his grin turns wicked. “It’s not like we haven’t seen it all before.”
My brows furrow, confused.
What has he seen?
Me?
“You shut your big mouth right now.” Nate points a threatening finger in Harrison’s direction.
Seb sits back down, knocking shoulders with Harrison. “I forgot all about that.”
Forgot about what, for goodness’ sake? I’m losing my mind over here.
What are they talking about?
“She doesn’t know about that time, and if she found out, she would be beyond embarrassed. Don’t ever bring it up,” Nate threatens.
More embarrassed than four guys I’ve known for the majority of my life, staring at my ass? I think not.
They don’t elaborate further, and my anxiety begins to spike.
I need to know what they were talking about, but Nate sits back at his desk, dismissing them when he finally gets the computer to work again, sighing as he does.
“In all seriousness. What’s going on between you two?” Harrison asks him. “The way you were both acting at the BU gala, I thought you finally worked through the bullshit.”
We did…but then I went and screwed it all up because my mind is a mess.
“So did I. But she’s still holding back, and I hate it. I get it, but I hate it.” Nate scrubs down his face. “I’m leaving for London. If that’s not enough time for her to make a decision, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
London? Since when?
My heart picks up speed, and I lean against the wall to steady myself. I hate that my insecurities have put a gaping divide between us, so much so that he hasn’t told me he’s leaving again.
Why would he? The small voice in my head says.
And for how long? I rub my chest to dull the ache.
I don’t want him to leave.
“Is this all worth it? Is she worth it?” Seb asks. “Seems like a game you’d be tired of playing by now.”
A loud, audible gasp slips out, too loud, so I cover my mouth and run the other way so no one knows it was me.
A game? Is that what they all think? I’m fighting my demons, day in and day out, trying to rid myself of the constant thoughts holding me back, and they think this is a game to me?
You know what…fuck you, Seb.
Nate
I’m tired.
Tired of wondering, tired of waiting, tired of explaining, tired of life at the moment.
“Is this all worth it? Is she worth it?” Seb asks. “Seems like a game you’d be tired of playing by now.”
“This is Maddie we’re talking about, Seb.” It’s the only explanation I have at the moment.
He crosses his arms, his expression is as stoic as ever.
Harrison doesn’t look any happier.
“We love you. We love Maddie. But this isn’t fucking healthy,” Harrison finally speaks. “You’ve spent your whole adult life focused on one person, who doesn’t give you the same attention. It’s no way to live.”
“And you’re an expert on relationships suddenly? You strung Juliette along for months like she was worth nothing,” I spit, letting my anger get the best of me, even though I know his situation was complicated. I lean over, resting my arms on my knees. “Sorry.”
“It’s a low blow. I’ll let it slide since you’re hurting. However, if you ever bring that up again, there will be consequences.” His voice is deadly, and I don’t doubt him.
He’s fiercely protective over anything regarding his wife.
My calendar pings with an alert, so I focus my attention on that and not on how much of a dick I’m being.
“Shit.”
“What’s up?” Leo asks, finally getting up from the floor, and squishes his body between Harrison and Seb, annoying them both.
All three of them stare at me waiting for an answer, and I don’t have it in me to tell them, especially Seb and Harrison, knowing the shit I’d get for my impulsive purchase.
“Nothing. I have a meeting I need to leave for, so you all need to get the fuck out.”
“I thought your meeting was here, on a call with London?” Leo asks.
“Change of plans.” I get up and shoo them out, but before Leo has a chance to leave, I hold up my phone so he can see where I’m going.
His eyes widen, and I nod, then whisper, “Have Lizzy cancel my London call.” Then I hustle out of the office to make my new flight time.
Maddie
Life is too short, Maddie. He deserves to know what’s weighing on your mind.
Camila’s voice speaks so loudly, as if she’s here right in front of me that it jolts me up from my desk.
I’ve been thinking of her all afternoon, and the second I let my mind rest, she was here again with her opinions.
It’s not like I haven’t tried to speak to him today. Two hours have passed since I received an email from Lizzy informing me that Nate’s meeting with Amara had been canceled and that she would let me know when it would be rescheduled.
After that I couldn’t take it, so I walked back to his office with my tail between my legs, willing to talk and finally explain what’s been going through my head.
But he’s been gone ever since the brothers were here.
“Here.” My head snaps at the hostile voice of Linc.
I frown, staring at the certified mail sent from the city with our planning permits for the Pink Tiger project Leo’s been waiting on. “How did you get these?”
They were addressed to Leo and me. We made sure of it so no one could sign for them but us.
“‘You’re welcome’ are the words you’re looking for,” he says, then turns, and I watch him walking away with cocky confidence.
The first day I met Linc, I thought he was gorgeous, but his nasty attitude and conceited personality are such a turn-off, making him uglier and uglier by the day.
I don’t know what the hell his deal is or what I’ve ever done.
No, I know, I’ve done nothing. Other than work my butt off to get where I am, and he hates it.
Hates that I’m a smart, competent woman who rivals him in the office.
Not that I think any of my colleagues are rivals, but it’s exactly what he thinks.
Little does he know I’ve been dealing with haters my whole life; one insecure man won’t take me down.
“Knock, knock,” I announce as I enter Leo’s office, walking over to his desk to give him the permits.
“About time. How long does it take the city to decide on one small change?” He rips open the envelope to review the new approval.
I don’t want to get Leo involved any more than he already is in my and Nate’s life, but he’s the only person who can give me answers.
“Leo?” I mutter, my voice weak even to me. “Do you know where Nate is?”
He places the papers on the desk and leans back in his chair, crossing his legs and arms, as he does. “Why?”
“I…” I hesitate, but I can tell from Leo’s defensive stance he’s going to need something.
He’s playing the protective brother, and I won’t get through otherwise.
“I know he’s told you I’ve been distant.
You have to know it’s not for the lack of loving your brother, Leo.
This is about my own demons, haunting me, and I’m ready to talk. To work through it…with Nate.”
He nods softly. “He left, Maddie. His flight was three hours ago.”
My stomach drops.
No.
“He left for London already?” My voice cracks, right along with my heart.
He left.
“Maddie, you need to promise me this is it. You two need to work it out.”
I wipe the tears from my eyes. “I know, Leo.”
“Okay. He didn’t leave for London—”
“What do you mean? You said he’s on a plane.”
He stands, walks around his desk, takes me by the shoulders, and leads me out of the office. “Yes, but not to London, silly girl. Go wrap up your day, get your bag, and meet Robert, Harrison’s driver, downstairs in twenty minutes. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Where am I going?”
He turns me around and kisses my forehead. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Thank you.” I lean up, hug him tightly around his neck, and then I’m back at my desk in record time.
I have no clue what he’s planning or where I’m going, but none of that matters.
I’d go to the moon if I had to, if it meant I was going to fix everything with Nate.
After a quick flight out of a tiny Westchester airport in a small private jet Leo arranged, I’m quickly whisked across the tarmac into a helicopter.
I have no idea where we are, based on the small private air hangar, only that we can’t be far from home. The flight was so quick I barely had time to think.
Home.
If I weren’t worried about tracking down Nate, I’d be a lot more excited about that realization.
The helicopter takes off the moment I’m strapped in, and just as quickly, we’re already landing.
This time I know exactly where I am, and the excited butterflies are fluttering quickly in my chest.
The pilot helps me out once it’s safe to exit. “Follow me, please.”
“Thank you for the flight. I’ll take it from here.”
He frowns, looking at the overgrown pathway he was leading us toward. “That doesn’t look too safe. I’m not sure Mr. Morales would approve of me leaving you.”
“He would. I promise. I could walk that path in my sleep. I appreciate your concern.”
I don’t give him a second to reply. I’m already off running through what was once our beautiful meadow to the path I know will lead me to my man.