15. Madison
MADISON
When will you stop with this temper tantrum and return home?
Seriously, Madison, enough is enough.
It’s time for you to grow up and—
I backed out of the slew of text messages my mother had sent while we were in the air. Each one was meant to tell me exactly how displeased she was with me for daring to make decisions that didn’t fit into her own little world.
“Enjoying the view?”
I startled, turning to find Alistair leaning against the doorway of my room. A smile tugged at his lips. I shoved my phone back in my pocket refusing to let my mother bring my mood down from three thousand miles away.
“It’s incredible. I didn’t know suites like this even existed.”
Our hotel was directly on the Thames, bordered by historic buildings and modern towers, with red double-deckers gliding across bridges. Streams of people flowed along the streets below, ducking in and out of shops, hopping in and out of cabs. Watching them, I didn’t think I’d ever get bored.
“Wait until you see the skyline all lit up at night,” he said. “I prefer the view from the royal suite, myself. But this one is a close second.”
Laughter bubbled up my throat. “Is this not the royal suite?” Geesh, how much fancier could this place get?
“No, unfortunately, it wasn’t available. This was the best they could do.”
My jaw dropped in disbelief. “I can’t believe this is only your second choice.” I gestured to the en suite. “Have you seen the marble in the bathroom? It’s so sleek, I’m worried about getting into the tub and not being able to get out.”
Alistair crossed his arms, amusement flicking across his face. “Did you see the grand piano in the entry?”
“Yes, Kenna serenaded me while you were out tipping the bellhop by our own private elevator,” I pointed out. The fact that there was a suite in the hotel that was better than this one blew my mind. I already felt beyond spoiled.
“It’s a good starter suite,” Alistair teased. “We’ll save the other one for next time.”
Next time? I blinked in response to his words. Did he envision a future London trip with me?
My heart skipped, giddy at the possibility, but I reined myself in quickly. Be reasonable, woman! The man had only kissed me once. I didn’t need to get ahead of myself or start overthinking his words.
I hurried to change the subject. “What are all these secret plans you were arranging on the flight?” I checked my watch. “Also, don’t you have meetings to get to?”
A wicked grin flashed across his face. “I do. Which is why I’ve called Alfie.”
“Your assistant?”
He nodded. “He lives in London and has graciously agreed to be your guide while I’m away.”
“Guide for what?” I pressed. He’d been tight-lipped since leaving the jet. “I like a surprise as much as the next woman, but come on—”
Something buzzed through the suite. Loudly. Tiny footsteps went thundering down the hall.
“The doooooor!” Kenna cried. “I’ll get it, Daddy!”
I half expected to hear Princess barking at her heels, but we’d left her in Aisling’s very eager hands for a few days. Which actually meant she was Weston and Lena’s responsibility.
“That’ll be Alfie now,” Alistair said, turning for the door.
I hurried after him. Crossing the suite to the entryway felt like a marathon.
I’d once stayed in a hotel room where I had to keep my bag in the bathroom because in the main room, it took up too much of the floor space for me to navigate around it.
While the suite was, of course, only a fraction of the size of the castle, it still felt impossibly huge.
Kenna was tugging on the giant gold door handle when we reached her. “It’s too heavy,” she grunted.
“It’s locked, sweetheart.” Alistair turned the bolt.
The door swung open to reveal a young man wearing rectangular glasses, boat shoes, and a bright yellow Gucci cardigan that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. He had blond highlights in his dark hair and two lightning bolt-shaped piercings in his left ear.
“All right?” Alfie said, waltzing through the door. He was younger than I’d expected, but maybe that’s how he kept up with the schedule of a billionaire.
“Alfie!” Kenna cheered, rushing to give him a hug.
“Hiya, kiddo. You all right?”
“Like my bracelet?” she asked, holding her arm out for him to see the beads.
“Oh, it’s gorg. Where’s mine?”
“I can make you one!” she said, delighted by the idea. Then she pouted. “But I don’t have my beads.”
“Maybe we can pick you up a small kit today,” I suggested before she could get too upset.
“Alfie,” Alistair said, reaching around me. His hand fell to the small of my back, and I fought a shiver. “This is Madison.”
Alfie reached for my hand. His cuticles looked better than mine. “Nice to finally put a face to the name.”
“Good to meet you too.” I smiled. “I’ve so far learned that you micromanage Alistair’s life.”
“I try to,” he laughed, rolling his eyes. “The man is always trying to do the most.”
Alistair arched an eyebrow like the idea of doing anything less than “the most” had never even occurred to him, but then he reached down and scooped Kenna onto his hip. “You behave for Alfie and Madison, right? Daddy’s going to pop out to his meetings, but I’ll see you tonight.”
“I have to stay here?” Kenna said, pouting.
I wondered suddenly if she remembered being squirreled away in London during the trial, forced to stay indoors to avoid the press.
“No, kiddo. We’re going out on the town,” Alfie said, waving his hands with jazz-fingers pizzazz. “C’mon. Say goodbye. We’ve got places to be.”
“Oh, like right now?” I said.
Alfie nodded. “The car should already be downstairs.” He grabbed my coat and Kenna’s from the hooks by the door.
“Right, let me just grab my wallet.”
“You won’t need that,” Alistair said, catching me around the waist before I could take off. “Everything is already sorted.”
I gave him a curious look, a little thrill shooting through me. “Fine, but a woman still needs her purse.”
I retrieved it from my room, then Alistair ushered the three of us out the door to the private elevator, giving me another one of those secret grins as the door closed between us.
Alfie handed me my coat once we were moving. I slipped it on, then helped Kenna with her zipper. “I really have no idea what’s going on.”
“This is Alistair’s world, and we’re just living in it,” he said as the door popped open. He waved us through the lobby to the exit. “All you have to do is enjoy yourself.” He pushed us through the revolving door.
I stopped short. A sleek black limo waited at the curb. “You said the car was here.”
“That’s for us?” Kenna asked, sounding delighted as she skipped down the stairs.
“Sure is, kiddo,” Alfie said, following her. “Want to see inside?”
“Yeah!”
I followed them, gaping as the driver pulled the door open.
I didn’t even get a limo for prom, and now here I was about to experience London like this.
I glanced over my shoulder, almost expecting Alistair to be there, watching with that half smile.
I didn’t know how to thank him, but I made a mental note to say something later, then raced down the steps, climbing onto the soft leather seat.
Kenna was already rifling through a snack compartment. “Can I have this?”
“Wait, let me see,” I said, holding my hand out for the bar in her hand. “I don’t want you accidentally eating some brandy-infused chocolate or whatever.”
“It’s all been Kenna-proofed on Alistair’s orders,” Alfie said. “Go wild, kiddo.”
“Actually, not too wild,” I told her. I didn’t need to get puked on because Kenna had gorged herself on snacks right before we hit a roundabout. I helped her pick out a couple of snacks with the agreement that we’d save the rest for later.
With a delighted squeal, Kenna unwrapped a fancy chocolate bar, and I stared out the windows, marveling at the historic buildings as we drove through the city.
We did a mini tour, and Alfie pointed out the highlights—Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge.
I just wanted to keep driving around in circles, but eventually we stopped along the curb.
“This is us,” Alfie said, opening the door and hopping out. He held his hands out in a ta-da fashion as we followed him onto the sidewalk.
I stared up at the building. It was carved from pale stone with elegant columns framing the door. “Skin by Corine?”
“This place has a waiting list longer than this limo,” Alfie said, leading us to the door. “It’s four floors of spa.”
He directed us inside, checking us in with the receptionist who immediately had a staff member whisk us into a private sitting room. “They even have thermal pools,” Alfie whispered.
I had no idea what that meant.
“Kenna?” a woman called, coming into the room. She wore a tailored charcoal uniform, her hair pulled back in a sleek bun.
“That’s me!” Kenna popped to her feet, skipping toward the woman.
She leaned down and smiled. “I’ve heard you like manicures?”
Kenna stared down at the paint job on her nails, which was already a week old.
“That sounds fun,” I said, getting to my feet to join her. “I bet they can do really fancy nail art here, Ken. I’ll help you pick a design.”
Alfie tutted, blocking my way. “No, no. You go that way for your full body massage.” He pointed to a door.
“Wait, are you sure?”
“Alistair insisted,” he said. “I’ve got Kenna, don’t you worry.”
“O-kay,” I said, wandering in the direction of the other door.
I poked my head through, greeted by another woman named Melanie who introduced me to aromatherapy hot stone massage.
Heated stones were placed all over my body while my muscles were kneaded with essential oils.
Another woman appeared, taking a file to my nails.
At some point during the hour, I forgot my own name, and when it was done, I practically floated back into the limo as Kenna eagerly showed me her nails.
“Ladybugs?” I said. “These are adorable.”
“I suggested dragons, but I was outvoted,” Alfie teased.
I frowned down at my own hands, noticing that I now had a French manicure of my own. When did that happen?