Chapter 316
Chapter 322
Madison
I went to the pantry to make his coffee, and my movements were mechanical. As I waited for the machine to brew, I replayed our conversation in my head. Had I made a mistake? Was I overreacting?
No. I was protecting myself. If Alexander truly cared about me, he would have fought harder to keep me. He would have reassured me, promised to be more transparent, and offered to make our relationship public. 1
Instead, he’d let me go without a fight.
I returned to his office with the coffee, knocking lightly before entering. Alexander was on the phone, his back to the door as he gazed out the window. “I’ll handle it,” he said. “Just keep this between us for now p>
I set the coffee on his desk and turned to leave.
“Madison,” he called, ending his call. “Wait p>
I paused, not turning around. “Yes p>
“Look at me p>
I reluctantly faced him. Alexander had moved to lean against his desk, arms crossed over his chest.
“I meant what I said about Katherine,” he said. “There’s nothing between us anymore. Those photos were manipulated to create a story that doesn’t exist p>
“It doesn’t matter,” I repeated. “We’ve ended the arrangement. You’re free to see whoever you want p>
“And if I want to see you p>
My heart stuttered. “What p>
“What if I want to continue seeing you, arrangement or not p>
I stared at him, trying to decipher his meaning. “I don’t understand p>
“I think you do.” He pushed away from the desk, moving toward me with that predatory grace that always made my pulse race. “I enjoy your company, Madison. In and out of bed p>
I took a step back, my heart hammering against my ribs. “I enjoy your company too, but that’s not the point p>
“Then what is the point, Madison?” Alexander closed the distance between us, his cologne wrapping around me like a familiar embrace. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re ending something good because of office gossip and misinterpreted photos p>
“It’s not just the gossip.” I crossed my arms, creating a barrier between us. “It’s about respect. I don’t want to be the subject of water cooler conversations while you’re seen publicly with Katherine p>
“I already told you those photos were taken out of context p>
“That doesn’t change how it looks!” My voice rose slightly. “Do you have any idea what people are saying about
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me? That I slept my way into the project manager position. That I’m just keeping your bed warm until Katherine comes back p>
Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Who said that p>
“Everyone!” I threw my hands up. “The entire office thinks I’m your flavor of the month. And seeing you with Katherine in those photos just confirms what they’re saying p>
“Since when do you care what people think p>
“Since it started affecting my professional reputation!” I stepped away, needing distance from his intoxicating presence. “I’ve worked too hard to be reduced to ‘the boss’s plaything p>
Alexander ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in the gesture. “I’ve already offered to make our relationship public. You’re the one who refused p>
“You never suggested we could continue without the arrangement. You’ve never once said, ‘Let’s forget the contract and just be together.‘ All you’ve talked about is extending our business deal or making it public while keeping the same terms p>
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly are you saying, Madison p>
“I’m saying it seems like you’ve been waiting for Katherine all along.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “You created this arrangement with me, but the moment she’s back in town, you’re having dinner with her, touching her, looking at her like p>
“There is nothing between Katherine and me,” Alexander interrupted, his voice sharp. “Those dinner meetings were strictly business. She’s collaborating with Georgia on a fashion line for Knight Industries p>
“With your hand on her back?” I challenged.
Alexander’s jaw tightened. “An old habit, nothing more. I went to those meetings because my father asked me to represent the company. Katherine is just a friend now, Madison. Nothing more p>
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be in this arrangement anymore. It’s too complicated p>
Alexander studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “If that’s what you want p>
His easy capitulation stung more than I expected. No argument? No attempt to change my mind? Just immediate acceptance, as if our arrangement meant nothing to him.
“It is,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the ache in my chest.
“Then consider our arrangement terminated,” he said, his tone businesslike. “Effective immediately p>
I nodded, ignoring the hollow feeling spreading through me. “Thank you p>
“Who was it?” Alexander asked suddenly, his eyes sharpening.
“What p>
“The people gossiping about you. Who were they p>
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I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter p>
“It matters to me,” he insisted, taking a step closer. “Tell me who said those things about you p>
“Forget about it,” I said, waving a dismissive hand. “It’s my fate, apparently. No one will ever believe I earned my promotions through hard work. It’s easier to assume I got my PA position or project manager role by using my body rather than my talent p>
“That’s not true,” Alexander said firmly. “Your work speaks for itself p>
“Not loudly enough, apparently.” I glanced at my watch, suddenly desperate to escape his office. “I should get back to work p>
“Madison p>
“It’s fine, Mr. Knight.” I forced a smile that felt brittle on my face. “Really. I appreciate your concern, but I’d rather just move forward professionally and forget this conversation happened p>
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. “We’re not done discussing this p>
“I am.” I reached for the door handle. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do p>
I fled back to my desk, heart hammering in my chest. The arrangement was over. Just like that. No penalties mentioned, no money demanded for early termination. He’d simply let me go.
Which meant I meant nothing to him. Just a convenient body to warm his bed until Katherine returned.
My computer screen blurred as unexpected tears threatened. I blinked them away furiously, focusing on the email that had just arrived from the development team.
Work. Focus on work. That was all that mattered now.
I immersed myself in work, responding to emails with mechanical efficiency. By lunchtime, I’d managed to push thoughts of Alexander and our terminated arrangement to the back of my mind.
Chapter 323
Chapter 323
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.