Chapter 75
Chapter 77
Alexander
I guided Madison through the elegant restaurant, my hand resting on the small of her back. The lunch crowd buzzed with quiet conversation and clinking silverware. Our private booth awaited in a secluded corner perfect for the meeting ahead with
Andrew
Madison slid into the curved booth first, and I settled beside her rather than across. The leather upholstery creaked as I shifted closer, our thighs touching beneath the crisp white tablecloth. Her vanilla perfume teased my senses.
1 traced my fingers along Madison’s thigh under the tablecloth, enjoying how her breath caught. The restaurant’s ambient noise provided the perfect cover for more intimate activities, but business had to come first for now.
“Looks like Andrew’s running late again.” I checked my Rolex. “ I specifically told him noon sharp p>
Madison smoothed her napkin across her lap. “Maybe he’s stuck in traffic, Mr. Knight p>
I suppressed a smirk, letting my thoughts wander to a more likely scenario. Andrew probably rolled out of bed with his latest conquest mere minutes ago. The man had a weakness for leggy models that rivaled his inability to show up on time.
A waiter materialized at our table, his pressed uniform and eager smile a testament to the restaurant’s five–star status. I withdrew my hand from Madison’s thigh, settling back against the leather seat.
“Good afternoon, sir. May I take your order p>
“We’ll order later. Waiting on another guest.” I waved him off with practiced ease.
After the waiter’s retreat, Madison turned those captivating eyes toward me. “Are we here to discuss the new real estate project?
“Yes.” I kept my response clipped, resisting the urge to return my hand to her warm skin. The memory of last night’s activities flickered through my mind – her breathless moans, the way she’d arched beneath me. But business demanded attention first.
The restaurant’s double doors swung open, and Andrew strode in with his secretary Sandra trailing behind him.
“Traffic was murder.” Andrew slid into the booth across from us, his secretary sitting beside him. “You wouldn’t believe the mess on the Strip p>
I raised an eyebrow. “At noon p>
“Well…” Andrew adjusted his tie again, clearly uncomfortable under my scrutiny. “The Strip’s always a mess p>
“Sure it is.” I kept my tone dry. The faint scent of scotch lingered on him- definitely nursed a hangover this morning.
The waiter materialized again, this time armed with menus. Madison selected a light salad, while Andrew ordered a rare steak that might still moo. His secretary Sandra chose the salmon, and I went with the Wagyu beef.
“So, ” Andrew spread his hands on the table once our orders were placed. “I’ve got two incredible opportunities. One’s right here in Vegas – prime real estate just off the Strip. The other’s a sweet spot in Manhattan’s Financial District p>
Heaned back, studying him. “Tell me more p>
“The Vegas property’s perfect for a luxury hotel–casino.combo. Twenty acres, already zoned commercial. The New York spot’s smaller but prime location perfect for a high–rise office building with retail space below p>
“Why choose?” I took a sip of water. “I’ll take both p>
Andrew’s eyebrows shot up. “Both? That’s ambitious p>
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Chapter 77
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I couldn’t help but smirk at Andrew’s reaction. His shock at my casual acceptance of both properties betrayed his small–time thinking.
“Ambitious is my middle name.” 1 signaled the waiter for a refill of water.
The next hour dissolved into discussions about zoning permits, construction timelines, and projected returns. Andrew’s secretary, Sandra, took detailed notes while Madison observed quietly, occasionally glancing at me when particularly interesting numbers were mentioned.
Our food arrived, providing a welcome break from Andrew’s endless technical details. The wagyu practically melted on my tongue – worth every penny of its astronomical price tag.
“Look,” I cut through Andrew’s rambling about parking structures. “ I’ll assign separate management teams for each project. We can iron out the specifics next week when my people have reviewed the proposals p>
Andrew dabbed his mouth with his napkin, his steak barely touched. “Of course, of course. I’ll have my team prepare comprehensive breakdowns p>
“Send everything to Miss Harper.” I gestured toward her with my fork. “She’ll coordinate the meetings p>
Madison nodded, already pulling out her tablet to make notes. The way she handled business efficiently while maintaining that air of innocence fascinated me. Only I knew what lay beneath that professional exterior.
“Perfect.” Andrew’s eyes darted between Madison and me, clearly trying to read our dynamic. He wouldn’t succeed – we’d perfected our public performance.
The lunch wrapped up with handshakes and promises of follow–up meetings. As Andrew and his secretary headed out, the bill, adding a generous tip for the attentive service.
“Well, Mr. Knight,” Madison gathered her things, “shall I schedule those meetings for next week p>
“Yes.” I stood, adjusting my suit jacket. “But first, I believe we have other matters to discuss p>
I watched Madison’s expression shift from professional to curious.
“What matters would those be, Mr. Knight p>
I settled
“Let’s discuss it on our way back to the resort.” I placed my hand on her lower back, guiding her toward the exit. “The walls here
have ears p>
“Of course p>
Her “Of course ” lingered in the air as I watched her walk ahead of me toward the exit. The gentle sway of her hips in that fitted pencil skirt was pure torture. My hands itched to grab those curves, but the restaurant’s other patrons kept my urges in check.
The Vegas heat hit us as we stepped outside. My driver had the car waiting, engine purring.
I opened the door for Madison, enjoying the view as she slid into the backseat. The privacy partition was already up.
Once inside, I settled next to her, close enough that our thighs touched. The car merged smoothly into trattic.
“So, Mr. Knight … ” Madison turned those bright eyes on me. “What matters did you want to discuss p>
I smirked. “Eager to know, aren’t you p>
“Just being thorough about my duties.” Her words held a hint of playfulness that made my blood run hot.
I loosened my tie, enjoying the way her eyes followed the movement. “We discussed two major projects today p>
“The Vegas and Manhattan properties, yes p>
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“The New York project is smaller, more manageable. Perfect for someone to cut their teeth on.” I studied her reaction. “I want you to oversee it as project manager p>
“What?” Madison’s eyes widened, her professional demeanor slipping for a moment.
“You heard me.” I leaned back against the leather seat, enjoying her surprise. “You’ve proven yourself capable of handling complex tasks. Plus, it’s closer to home p>
“But Mr. Knight, I’m your assistant p>
“And now you’ll be my project manager, too,” I smirked. “Unless you don’t think you can handle it p>
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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.