Chapter 29 #2
Her face contorts, confused. “Huh?”
“Cunningham. Maddie Grace Davenport just doesn’t have the same nostalgic ring to it.”
“Are you saying you want to marry me, Nathaniel?” She bats her eyelashes, her dimples on full display, causing my cock to twitch again.
“I’m not saying, I’m telling.” I palm her ass and pull her harder into me. “When do you want to get married?”
“You need to ask me first.”
“No, I don’t. In my eyes, you’re already my whole life, so being my wife is just semantics.”
“You’re the most romantic, non-romantic person I know. I do know one thing.” I squeeze her ass. “Quit it.” She giggles, rolling her eyes. “Someone can walk in at any second.”
“They’d get a good show. You’re fucking hot.” I lean in and bite down on her bottom lip, stretching it, eliciting a low moan out of her. “What do you know, Mads?”
Her breathing is labored, her eyes dilated as she glances through her hooded eyes. “I want to get married on the Endless Summer.”
“On the boat? Really?”
She tugs at the back of my hair as she thinks. “It’s where we said I love you again for the first time in so many years, and you’re happiest there.”
“We can—”
“No. I’ve made up my mind, it’s on the boat,” she says with conviction.
My phone dings.
“For fuck’s sake. I have to go.” I palm the back of her neck and pull her lips hard against mine, leaving her breathless.
“I’ll email you the information on where the blueprints need to be sent.
Thank you again for doing this. If anyone gives you shit, blame the boss.
” I wink, grab my briefcase, and leave before she traps me with her wicked ways.
Maddie
My tablet is pulled to my chest, my heels frozen against the polished concrete, as I stand off to the side, admiring my man as he commands his meeting.
I wanted to stop in quickly and make sure he was doing okay, and I’m glad I did. I don’t often see Nate hard at work, since I spend more time on Leo’s team than with Nate.
Since our days are jammed back-to-back, besides a few naughty emails—from Nate, of course—and the occasional lunch, we barely communicate.
But Nate’s had me a nervous wreck all day, and I needed to make time for him; I’ve never seen him like this except once in college.
Not realizing it until now, but both times were when he saw his biological parents.
He hates them, I believe that, but no matter the pain and trauma they caused, deep down, the hurt from a parent never leaves you.
I know that from firsthand experience.
Glancing around the office, I make sure I’m out of sight and not looking like a creeper.
I’m already overly conscious about my relationship with Nate, so I don’t need anyone to see me away from my desk, spying, or accuse me of not doing work.
“Let’s stop thinking about this as the new ‘It’ building,” Nate says, his commanding voice grabbing my attention.
I never realized this, but boss mode Nate is freaking hot.
He moves around the oval conference room table, his eyes meeting every single person there. “And start thinking about it as the future.”
The sleeves of his crisp white button-up are rolled up his forearms as he grips the back of the chair, veins climbing his arms, strong muscles flexing as he moves.
Like I said…hot.
The projector screen lights up behind him, while he continues talking. A slim marker twirls between his fingers as the screen flickers with renderings that I instantly recognize as his work.
Whereas Leo and I tend to lean toward modern designs in the city, Nate’s designs always felt more organic.
Using the space around him to adapt.
Someone clears their throat. An older gentleman I haven’t met before. Gray hair, wrinkly skin, and a skeptical posture.
“Then what are we thinking of it as, if not a building?”
Nate smiles, but it’s not the charming one I love.
It’s measured, as if he knew this guy would push back.
He clicks the screen.
The building fractures into layers. Energy flow, public access, green space, and load distribution.
I feel my stomach swirl in excitement.
Leo and I might joke that we scored better than Nate in school, but he was always the better teacher, and that’s exactly what he’s doing.
It’s why I always went to him when I needed help.
“This isn’t about adding solar panels and calling it innovation,” he continues. “It’s about designing something that adapts. That changes with its environment.”
A woman across the table leans forward. “And when the client asks about cost?”
Nate doesn’t miss a beat. “Front-loaded. Higher than traditional builds, sure, but prices are soaring because buyers’ expectations are rising.
And by year seven, it’s operating with thirty percent lower overhead.
By year twelve, it’s outperforming every comparable structure.
” He sets the marker down. “We’ve just gained one of the top senior architects who is proficient in efficiency, and I’ll be sure to bring her to the next meeting to go over this more in-depth. She’s an expert in the field.”
I freeze, knowing he’s talking about me, and my heart expands.
Nate suddenly lifts his head. We make secret eye contact, and he winks.
Of course, he would know I was here the whole time.
A junior architect speaks up, asking a question I don’t hear, too focused on Nate.
He nods, already turning off the screen.
Someone else jumps in. “This would put us ahead of every firm bidding for the waterfront project.”
Nate tilts his head. “That’s not the goal.” Now everyone is watching him. “The goal is to build something we won’t be apologizing for in twenty years.”
And there it is…what sets Nate apart.
He doesn’t build to win.
He builds to mean something.
As the meeting wraps up, someone adds, “This is ambitious.”
Nate smirks. “So were elevators once.”
A ripple of quiet laughter moves through the room.
He closes his laptop.
Meeting over.
Ah, I’ve got to get out of here before I lunge like a wild animal and attack him on the table.
I scurry back to my desk, and as I knew he would, Nate is not far behind me.
He exudes power as he walks down the hallway, and heads turn as he threads his fingers through his perfect dark hair.
All the younger girls on my floor are drooling as he passes, admiring his square jaw, broad frame, and fuck-me blue eyes.
I don’t blame them…how could they not?
I’m seriously the luckiest girl in the world, and it sucks to be them.
He nods to a few people sitting in the middle of the open floor area, then slaps our maintenance guy on the back and asks how his daughter is doing.
Then finally makes it to me.
“Mads. Can you come with me, please?”
“Why?”
He holds out his hand. “Don’t ask questions.”
I look at my desk, which has papers sprawled everywhere. My eye catches the mail I’ve yet to open, and I notice a familiar handwriting, causing my stomach to sink.
It’s from D.T., the person who constantly sends me letters about a piece I have no idea what they’re talking about.
“Madeline. As your boss, I’m giving you a direct order.” He holds out his hand again. “Now.” He widens his eyes, daring me to argue.
Slowly, I stand, not wanting to make a scene.
He tries to take my hand, and I swat it away. “Everyone is watching,” I say through a clenched jaw.
I grab my sketchbook and follow alongside him.
“Why did you bring that?”
“So it looks like I’m going to your office to discuss work, rather than whatever you need me for. Why do you think?”
“You’re the only one who cares.”
“Ha. You’re one delusional man.”
His face falls. “Is someone bothering you other than Linc?”
“Linc is not bothering me. I keep telling you, he’s jealous,” I say, watching what Nate misses. The heads turning, the whispering as I walk by.
“Nathaniel,” a high-pitched squeak calls out from behind us as we’re about to step into the elevator.
Nate closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Yes, Melissa?”
“Lizzy said you’re free to go over the paperwork that needs to be submitted—”
“She’s wrong. I’m not free, actually. I’m very busy.” He waggles his brows at me, still keeping complete eye contact. “Isn’t that right, Ms. Cunningham?”
“You’re not free because Lizzy slotted me in.”
“Melissa, I don’t care what she told you. I am changing my schedule. You can ask for time later or tomorrow.”
“But Madeline is a personal meeting, we need to do this by—”
Nate holds up a hand to silence her.
Oh no….
He sucks in a deep breath, calming himself, then turns around slowly with a look that could kill.
“Excuse me?” His deep voice vibrates from his chest.
Melissa takes a step back. “I didn’t mean…I just…”
“Let me explain something to you, Melissa. Whatever type of meeting I have with Ms. Cunningham, whether personal or business, is no concern of yours. And I would highly advise you to learn your place sooner rather than later. I will have Lizzy reschedule the meeting as soon as possible.”
He turns his back, dismissing her, as we step onto the elevator, and she scurries off like a scared dog.
“Jeez. That was very Leo-like of you to snap.”
He rolls his eyes. “She’s a good architect, but she’s a pain in the ass, and trust me, she’s seen nothing yet. If she thinks she can butt in, putting your name in her mouth, she’s fucking delusional.”
We get off on the floor above, where Nate’s office is.
“Dramatic.” I apply my lip balm and follow him into his office, ignoring more heads turning as we go. “So what business matter did you need to discuss, Mr. Davenport?”
“The business of my dick inside of your cunt,” he says deadpan, then locks the door.
A laugh escapes my lips. “Not in your office.”
He presses the button to shade his glass office, then leans against his desk, crossing his arms and legs. “Are you telling me no?”
He knows I can’t.
He crooks his finger, and I follow blindly.
My heart beat picks up at the thought of him finding what I wore for him today.
I don’t know what came over me, too much time with my naughty Nate, but I’m suddenly nervous.
Of course, he senses it.