Chapter 380
Chapter 386
Madison
I found Christopher’s number and dialed before I could second–guess myself. It rang three times before he picked up.
“Christopher?” I said, gripping the phone.
“Hey, Madison. What’s up p>
I could hear the hum of office chatter behind him, the click of keyboards, someone laughing.
“Where are you right now p>
“At the office. Why? Everything okay p>
I paced the kitchen, phone pressed to my ear. “I need a favor. Actually, more of a warning p>
“Okay.” His tone shifted, curious but cautious. “What kind of warning p>
“Remember the guy at the café the day before yesterday? The one in the expensive suit p>
“Hard to forget. He looked like he wanted to murder me with his eyes p>
Despite everything, I almost smiled. “That’s Alexander Knight. My former boss p>
“Your former boss showed up at your café and glared at me? That’s weird p>
“Yeah, well, it gets weirder. I told him we’re dating p>
Silence.
“Christopher p>
“You told your ex–boss that we’re dating? Why p>
I stopped pacing, staring at the cabinets. “Because he kept asking about my personal life, and I needed him to back off. So if he asks you, by any chance, just tell him we’re together. Please p>
“You want me to lie to some billionaire CEO about dating you p>
“Yes. Exactly that p>
“This is the most interesting thing that’s happened to me all week. He laughed. “Sure, why not? I’ll be your fake boyfriend p>
“Thank you.” Relief flooded through me.
“You know what?” His tone turned playful. “Instead of faking this, why don’t we actually date p>
My stomach tightened. “Christopher, I’m not interested. Not right now p>
“Fair enough.” He didn’t sound offended. “We can talk about it leisurely some other time. I’m busy right now anyway, but I’ll meet you this evening if you want. Compare notes on our fake relationship story p>
“Sure p>
“Later, then p>
The line went dead.
I set the phone down and braced my hands against the counter, breathing slowly. Christopher would cover for me. Alexander would believe we were together. Everything would be fine.
Except nothing felt fine.
I stood in my kitchen, Christopher’s agreement to lie for me echoing in my head, and felt like a fraud. Like I was seventeen
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Chopter 386
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again, making bad decisions and hoping they wouldn’t blow up in my face.
“You okay?” Hazel emerged from the guest room, phone still in hand. “You look like you’re planning a murder or having an existential crisis. Maybe both p>
“I’m fine p>
“You’re a terrible liar.” She grabbed her coat from the back of the chair. “But I’ll let it slide for now because I actually need to
leave p>
Relief and disappointment warred in my chest. “Already p>
“Already. Some of us have jobs that don’t involve cafés and billionaire ex–bosses showing up uninvited.” She pulled on her coat, then turned to face me. “But before I go, we need to talk p>
“We just talked p>
“No, I talked. You deflected.” Hazel crossed her arms. “Madison, what do you actually want here p>
“What do you mean p>
“With Alexander. What do you want?” She held up a hand before I could answer. “And don’t give me some bullshit about wanting him to leave you alone. If that’s what you really wanted, you would’ve told him to fuck off and never come back. But you didn’t p>
“I did tell him that p>
“Not really. You told him you didn’t want to talk. That’s different from telling him to get lost permanently.” Hazel studied my face. “So I’m asking again. What do you want p>
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Tried again. “I don’t know p>
“That’s the first honest thing you’ve said all day.” She softened slightly. “Look, I’m not Team Alexander or Team Christopher or Team Anyone. I’m Team Madison. Always have been, always will be p>
“I know p>
“So whatever you decide, whatever you want, I’ve got your back.” She paused. “But you need to figure out what that is. Because right now, you’re in limbo. And that’s not fair to anyone. Not to Christopher, not to Alexander, and definitely not to you p>
I leaned against the counter.
She grabbed her purse. “Call me if anything happens. Anything. I don’t care if it’s two in the morning p>
“I will p>
She hugged me quickly, fiercely. “And Madison? Figure out what you want. Not what you think you should want. What you actually want p>
Then she was gone, the front door closing behind her with a soft click.
I stood in the empty kitchen, her words echoing.
What did I want?
Five years ago, the answer would have been simple. Alexander. I’d wanted Alexander with an intensity that terrified me. Wanted him to choose me over Katherine, to see me as more than an arrangement, to love me the way I loved him.
But five years changed things. Changed me. I’d built a life here. A good life. A safe life.
Alexander threatened all of that just by existing in the same zip code.
I pressed my palms against the cool granite countertop, letting the cold seep into my skin. The kitchen was silent except for the hum of the refrigerator.
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No. I wasn’t going to spiral. Not over Alexander Knight showing up in Connecticut like some ghost from my past. Not over his Aston Martin and his four–thousand–dollar suits and the way my stupid heart still skipped when he looked at me.
Take it slow, I reminded myself. One day at a time. Don’t make rash decisions. Don’t panic. Don’t assume anything.
I’d built a life here. Alexander didn’t get to waltz in and disrupt that just because he finally remembered I existed.
Maybe he was telling the truth about the development project. Maybe he really was here for work, and seeing me was just coincidental. Stranger things had happened.
Or maybe he was lying through his perfect teeth and had come specifically to Connecticut to find me.
Either way, it didn’t matter. I’d moved on. He’d moved on. Whatever we’d had, it was ancient history.
Except my racing pulse said otherwise.
P
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.