Chapter 168
Madison
1 jerked awake, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. My neck ached from the awkward angle, and I blinked rapidly, trying to get my bearings. The dim lights of Alexander’s office slowly came into focus as my eyes adjusted.
My watch read 5:12 AM.
I sat up, rubbing my stiff neck and shoulders. The events of yesterday came flooding back: the stock crisis, the frantic calls, and the statement. I must have fallen asleep sometime after 2:30 AM.
Looking around the spacious office, I spotted Alexander asleep on the leather couch across the room. His usually perfect hair fell across his forehead, and his tie hung loosely around his neck. Even in crisis mode, he looked unfairly handsome.
The throw blanket was bunched around my waist. Had he covered me before I fell asleep? The thought made something flutter in my chest.
I stood quietly, stretching my cramped muscles, and tiptoed over to where he slept. For a moment, I just watched him: the steady rise and fall of his chest, the slight furrow between his brows, even in sleep. The man never truly relaxed, even unconscious.
I carefully picked up the blanket I’d been using and gently draped it over him. He stirred slightly, mumbling something unintelligible, but didn’t wake. I resisted the urge to brush the hair from his forehead and instead retreated to the other couch, curling up in the corner without a blanket.
Sleep came surprisingly quickly despite the uncomfortable position and the weight of everything happening around us.
“Madison.”
The deep voice penetrated my dreams, pulling me reluctantly back to consciousness.
“Madison, wake up,”
I opened my eyes to find Alexander standing over me, already looking remarkably put together for
spent the night on a couch during a company crisis. The blanket I’d placed over him
was now folded neatly on the arm of the other couch.
“What time is it?” I mumbled, sitting up and trying to smooth my hopelessly wrinkled blouse.
“6:30. We need to get ready for the board meeting.” He handed me a cup of coffee. “Drink this. We’ll stop by my penthouse to shower and change before heading back.”
I accepted the coffee gratefully, taking a long sip before replying. “Thank you, Mr. Knight.”
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“For the coffee or the blanket?” A hint of amusement crossed his face.
+25 BONUS
“Both, I guess.” I stood, slipping my feet back into my heels. “But I should be thanking you for the blanket. I put it on you later.”
“I know.” His eyes met mine briefly.
An awkward silence fell between us as I gathered my things, unsure how to respond. This domestic moment felt strangely intimate amid the corporate chaos.
“We have about an hour before we need to be back,” he said, breaking the silence.
I nodded, following him to the elevator. The exhaustion from our all–night crisis session weighed heavily on my shoulders, but the prospect of a hot shower provided much–needed energy.
“I can drop you at your place if you’d prefer,” Alexander offered as we stepped into the elevator.
“No, that would waste time,” I replied practically. “Your penthouse is closer to the office.”
He pressed the button for the parking garage. “Practical as always, Ms. Harper.”
The elevator doors opened to the underground parking level, and we walked to his sleek black car.
As we pulled out of the garage, I checked my phone for updates. The news cycle was already in full swing, with Knight Industries dominating the financial headlines.
“They’ve added our statement to the articles,” I noted, scrolling through my phone. “But they’re still leading with the allegations.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened as he navigated through early morning traffic. “Of course they are. Scandal sells better than denial.”
“At least they’re including our full statement instead of just snippets.” I continued reading. “Some are mentioning your spotless financial record and questioning the timing of these allegations.”
He made a sharp turn, his driving reflecting his mood. “Small mercies.”
“What do you think will happen when the market opens?” I asked.
Alexander’s eyes remained fixed on the road. “We’ll open down, probably around minus ten to twenty percent. If retailers and institutional investors believe our statement and trust the board meeting process, we might claw back some ground.”
“Could we end the day positive?”
He let out a short laugh. “That would be a miracle. The best–case scenario is slightly negative, maybe three to five percent down. Worst case…” He didn’t finish the sentence.
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“What about international markets?”
“Asian markets closed negative. Tokyo down twelve percent, Hong Kong down nine, but Shanghai only down five.” He accelerated through a yellow light. “European markets are holding their breath, waiting to see what happens when New York opens.”
“So we’re the main event,” I said.
“We always are.” His tone was matter–of–fact, not arrogant. “European and Asian investors will follow New York’s lead. If we can stabilize here, international markets will recover faster.”
I stared out the window at the city coming to life, trying to process the magnitude of what was happening. “It’s strange to think that in a few hours, billions of dollars will move based on whether people believe you or not.”
“Public perception is everything.”
“It’s not fair.”
He glanced at me briefly. “Fair doesn’t enter into it. This is business.”
We pulled into the private garage beneath his building. The elevator ride to the penthouse was silent, both of us lost in our thoughts about the day ahead.
Once inside, Alexander loosened his tie completely. “You can use the guest bathroom. Towels are in
the cabinet.”
“Thank you, Mr. Knight.” I followed Alexander down the hallway to the guest bathroom. The space was larger than my entire apartment, with marble countertops and a glass shower that could probably fit five people. I tried not to think about who else might have used this bathroom before me.
I showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away the tension of the previous night.
After dressing, I found Alexander in the kitchen, fully dressed in a charcoal suit. He handed me a travel mug of coffee.
“We need to leave in five minutes,” he said, checking his watch. “The board members are already arriving ”
“I’m ready,” I replied, taking a sip of the perfectly prepared coffee. Somehow, he remembered exactly how I liked it.
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.
