Chapter 265
Madison
After the meeting, I headed back to my PA desk, juggling thoughts about project timelines and wondering what Alexander’s schedule looked like for the afternoon. I’d barely settled in when my phone buzzed with a text from the hospital confirming Mom’s discharge time.
I knocked on Alexander’s office door, hearing his deep “Come in” before entering.
He sat behind his massive desk, phone pressed to his ear, but his eyes immediately locked with mine. He held up one finger, signaling me to wait while he finished his call.
“Yes, that’s correct. I expect those numbers by the end of the day.” He hung up, setting the phone down with deliberate precision. “Madison. How was the project meeting?”
“Productive. We’re on schedule.” I approached his desk, placing a folder in front of him. “These need your signature.”
He flipped through the documents, signing each with quick, confident strokes. “I received some interesting information this morning.”
“Oh?” I perched on the edge of the chair across from him.
“Vanessa Caldwell left New York the same day we departed for London.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Quite the coincidence, don’t you think?”
I felt my shoulders tense. “You think she knew we were going after Selena?”
“I think Vanessa has more resources than we initially gave her credit for.” He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin. “She’s apparently on some luxury retreat in the Maldives. Very convenient timing.”
“So what happens now?”
“We wait. She’ll return eventually, and when she does…” His smile was sharp enough to cut glass. “We’ll be ready.”
I nodded, trying to match his confidence. “Well, at least we have Selena’s confession. That’s something.”
“More than something,” Alexander said, closing the folder. “It’s leverage.” He leaned back in his chair, studying me with those intense eyes that always made me feel like I was being X–rayed. “Are you free this evening?”
“Actually, no. My mom’s being discharged today. I need to handle that.”
“What time?”
“Around five. Why?”
He stood, straightening his already perfect tie. “I’ll come with you.”
“That’s not necessary,” I said quickly. “I can manage on my own.”
Chapter 265
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“I’m sure you can.” He rounded his desk, perching on the edge right in front of me. “But I need to clear the bill and meet with Anthony about some investment opportunities in the medical sector.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Dr. Williams is an investor now?”
“He’s been quite successful with several medical startups. I’ve been meaning to discuss a new venture with him. “His fingers drummed against the polished wood. “Two birds, one stone.”
“Alright,” I conceded. “But don’t you have that conference call with investors at six?”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Been studying my schedule, Ms. Harper?”
“It’s literally my job to know your schedule, Mr. Knight.”
“I rescheduled the investors meeting for tomorrow morning. Any other objections?”
I shook my head, trying to ignore how close he was sitting. The scent of his cologne filled my senses.
“Good.” He stood up abruptly. “We’ll leave at four–thirty. That should give us plenty of time.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied automatically.
His eyes darkened at my words. “Careful with that ‘sir‘ business, Madison. You know what it does to me.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Liar,” he murmured, stepping closer. “You know exactly what you’re doing.”
I backed away, nearly bumping into a chair. “I should get back to work. Those expense reports won’t file themselves.”
“By all means.” He gestured toward the door, a knowing smirk on his face. “Don’t let me keep you.”
I escaped to my desk, my heart hammering in my chest. The man was infuriating. And intoxicating. And I was in way over my head.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and phone calls. At four–twenty, I gathered my things and headed to Alexander’s office. He was on the phone, but motioned for me to come in.
“Yes, that’s acceptable. Send over the revised contract, and I’ll review it tonight.” He hung up and stood, shrugging into his suit jacket. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
in the elevator, we stood side by side, a respectable distance between us. Two other executives joined us, nodding politely to Alexander.
“Mr. Knight.”
Alexander acknowledged them with a slight nod.
I kept my eyes fixed on the descending numbers, acutely aware of Alexander’s presence beside me. When the executives exited on the fifteenth floor, Alexander immediately closed the gap between us.
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“You look tense,” he observed.
“Just thinking about my mom.”
“She’ll be fine. Hallmark has excellent post–discharge care.”
“I know.” I sighed. “It’s just a lot. The hospital, work, the Manhattan project, our… arrangement.”
“One thing at a time.”
The elevator doors opened to the lobby, and we walked toward the exit.
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His driver held the door open as we approached the car. Once inside, Alexander loosened his tie slightly.
“How’s the Manhattan Project progressing?” he asked.
“Good. We’re ahead of schedule on the preliminary assessments.” I pulled out my phone and checked the time.” The team’s been great, actually. Very responsive.”
“They respect you.” It wasn’t a question.
I glanced at him. “They respect that I have your ear.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. They respect your competence.” His phone buzzed, and he frowned at the screen before typing a quick response.
The rest of the ride passed in comfortable silence. I watched the city blur past the window, lost in thought, until the car pulled up to Hallmark Hospital’s grand entrance.
“I’ll meet you upstairs after I speak with Anthony,” Alexander said as we walked through the automatic doors.” Shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes.”
“Take your time. We’ll probably be busy with discharge paperwork anyway.”
“Text me if you need anything.”
We parted ways at the elevator, Alexander heading to the administrative wing while I rode up to my mother’s floor. When I reached her room, I found it empty.
For a moment, I stood frozen in the doorway. Had they discharged her early? Surely, they would have called me.
1 approached the nurses‘ station, where a young woman was typing at a computer.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for Sarah Harper. The bed’s empty.”
The nurse glanced up with a smile. “Oh, Mrs. Harper? She’s been doing her physical therapy exercises. The therapist took her for a walk around the first floor. Said she needed to stretch her legs before discharge.”
Relief washed over me. “Thanks. I’ll head down to find her.”
“She’s probably in the east wing corridor. That’s where they usually do the walking exercises.”
I took the elevator down to the first floor, scanning the corridors for any sign of my mother. The east wing was
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quieter than the main lobby, with large windows overlooking a garden.
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As I rounded the corner, I spotted Alexander’s tall figure at the far end of the hallway. He was talking to someone, gesturing with one hand while the other was tucked casually in his pocket.
I moved closer, curious about who had captured his attention.
Then I stopped dead in my tracks.
Alexander Knight was chatting with my mother. And they were both laughing.
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.
