Chapter 227
Madison
I adjusted the midnight–blue dress Alexander had sent over, smoothing the silky fabric against my skin. The dress hugged my curves perfectly, with a tasteful slit up the side that revealed just enough leg to be intriguing without crossing into inappropriate territory.
1 turned to examine my reflection from different angles. The plunging back added a touch of daring that made my stomach flutter with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Alexander certainly knew how to pick clothes that fit me like they were made for my body.
A text notification lit up my phone screen.
Alexander: The car will be there in 15 minutes.
I slipped on the matching heels, applied a final coat of lipstick, and gathered my essentials into a small clutch. Through my apartment window, I noticed dark clouds gathering on the horizon. The weather forecast had mentioned possible storms tonight, but hopefully, we’d make it to the venue before any rain started.
Right on schedule, my phone buzzed again. The car had arrived. I took a deep breath, grabbed my coat, and headed downstairs.
Alexander was waiting in the back of the sleek black car, his eyes lighting up as I slid in beside him. He wore a perfectly tailored tuxedo that accentuated his broad shoulders.
“You look stunning,” he said, his gaze traveling slowly from my face down to my legs.
“Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself, Mr. Knight.”
A smile played at the corner of his lips. “The dress suits you.”
“It’s beautiful,” I admitted, running my fingers over the fabric. “Though I’m still not entirely clear on what kind of event we’re attending.”
“The Wilson Foundation Gala. They fund medical research and community health initiatives.”
“Sounds impressive.”
“It’s mostly wealthy people patting themselves on the back for writing checks,” he said with a hint of cynicism. “But they do good work, and the connections are valuable.”
The car moved smoothly through evening traffic as we headed toward downtown. Outside, the sky grew increasingly ominous.
“Looks like rain,” I observed.
“Mmm,” Alexander murmured, his attention clearly elsewhere. His hand found my knee, fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin where the dress had parted. “Have I mentioned how much I appreciate your legs?”
“Once or twice,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the heat spreading through me at his touch.
Chapter 227
+15 BONUS
His fingers inched higher. “We have at least twenty minutes before we arrive.”
“Mr. Knight,” I whispered, glancing meaningfully at the driver.
“Privacy partition,” he reminded me.
His hand slipped beneath my dress, and I gasped.
Twenty minutes later, I was frantically fixing my hair and makeup while Alexander looked infuriatingly composed, merely straightening his bow tie as the car pulled up to the entrance of the Grand Meridian Hotel.
“Ready?” he asked, a knowing smirk on his face.
“As I’ll ever be,” I muttered, smoothing my dress one final time.
The doorman opened the car door just as the first few raindrops began to fall. Alexander guided me inside with his hand at the small of my back, the heat of his palm burning through the thin fabric of my dress.
The Grand Meridian’s ballroom had been transformed into a glittering wonderland. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over elegantly dressed guests, while floral arrangements adorned every table. A string quartet played softly in one corner, providing a sophisticated soundtrack to the evening.
“Alexander Knight!” A portly man with a jovial smile approached us. “So glad you could make it.”
“Richard,” Alexander greeted him with a firm handshake. “Madison Harper, this is Richard Wilson, our host for the evening.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wilson,” I said, offering my hand.
“The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Harper.” He turned back to Alexander. “I see you’ve finally found someone worth bringing to these boring affairs. It’s been, what, three years since you’ve had a plus one?”
I felt Alexander stiffen slightly beside me. “Madison is my personal assistant and project manager for our Manhattan development. She’s here in a professional capacity.”
Richard’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Of course, of course. Well, enjoy the evening. Dinner will be served in thirty minutes, and speeches begin at nine.”
As he moved away to greet other guests, Alexander guided me deeper into the room.
“Sorry about that,” he murmured. “Richard has a habit of making assumptions.”
“It’s fine,” I assured him, though I couldn’t help wondering about that three–year gap. Had that coincided with Katherine’s departure from his life?
We moved through the crowd, Alexander introducing me to various business associates and socialites. I smiled and shook hands, trying to remember names and connections while being acutely aware of Alexander’s hand resting possessively at my waist.
“Madison Harper?” A woman’s voice called from behind us.
I turned to see a familiar face I couldn’t immediately place.
Chapter 227
+15 BONUS
“It’s Nora Scott,” she prompted. “We were in Professor Mitchell’s economics class together at NYU.”
Recognition dawned. “Nora! Of course, I’m sorry. It’s been years.
“Five at least,” she agreed, smiling warmly. “I saw your name on the guest list and could hardly believe it. Last I heard, you were working at that little marketing firm downtown.”
“Things change,” I said with a smile. “I’m with Knight Industries now.”
Nora’s eyes widened as she glanced between Alexander and me. “I see that. Well done, you.”
“Ms. Harper is an invaluable asset to my company,” Alexander interjected smoothly. “She’s heading up our Manhattan development project.”
Nora looked suitably impressed. “Wow, Madison. That’s incredible.”
A bell chimed, signaling guests to take their seats for dinner.
“It was lovely catching up,” I told Nora. “We should get coffee sometime.”
“Definitely. I’ll text you.”
As we made our way to our assigned table, Alexander leaned close. “Friend of yours?”
“Barely an acquaintance,” I admitted. “We had a few classes together in college.”
“She seemed surprised by your success.”
I laughed softly. “I wasn’t exactly the standout student. More the quiet one who sat in the back and took notes while others dominated class discussions.”
“I find that hard to believe,” he said, pulling out my chair. “You’re quite capable of holding your own.”
“That’s a recent development,” I said as I sat down. “Being your assistant has required a certain… evolution of character.”
His lips quirked. “Is that a complaint or a compliment?”
“Both,” I replied with a smile.
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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.
