Chapter 114
Madison
+25 BONUS
I stood outside my apartment building at exactly six o’clock, shivering slightly in the evening breeze. The expensive cocktail dress I chose was black with a sweetheart neckline and a hem that hit just above my knees. It was elegant without being overtly sexy, making it perfect for whatever surprise Alexander had planned.
Despite his instructions, I opted to wear black lace underwear matching the dress. I figured I could always slip them off in the bathroom if he insisted. There was no way I was walking around all evening feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Five minutes passed. Then ten. I checked my phone. No messages, no missed calls. Where was the car Alexander promised?
At 6:15, I was about to text him when a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The window rolled down, revealing Alexander’s handsome face and that infuriating smirk.
“You’re late,” I said as John, Alexander’s driver, got out and opened the back door for me.
“Actually, you’re exactly on time,” Alexander replied as I slid into the seat beside him. “I just wanted to see you standing there, waiting for me.”
I buckled my seatbelt with more force than necessary. “You said you’d send a car. You didn’t mention you’d be in it.”
“Did that disappoint you?” His eyes gleamed with amusement.
“I just like to be prepared.”
John closed the door and returned to the driver’s seat, starting the engine with a quiet purr.
“Where are we going?” I inquired, noticing that Alexander dressed more formally than usual in a tailored tuxedo accentuating his broad shoulders. He resembled someone who had just stepped off the cover of GQ Magazine.
Alexander adjusted his cufflinks and gave me that infuriating half–smile. “There’s been a slight change of plans. We need to make an appearance at Senator Williams‘ fundraiser before dinner.”
“A political fundraiser?” I stared at him. “You could have mentioned that earlier.”
“It was a last–minute invitation. The Senator’s a key player in our Vegas development.”
I glanced down at my simple black cocktail dress, suddenly feeling underdressed. “I would have worn something nicer if I’d known we were attending a political event.”
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Alexander’s eyes traveled down my body, lingering on the hemline of my dress. “You look perfect. Trust me, every man there will be jealous.”
The car glided through Manhattan traffic, John expertly navigating the evening rush hour.
“Are you hungry, Madison?” Alexander asked, his voice dropping to that dangerous tone that tingled my skin. The question carried an obvious double meaning.
I glanced toward the front seat, where John kept his eyes firmly on the road. The privacy partition was down, and while John always maintained an air of professional deafness, I wasn’t taking
chances.
“I can wait until dinner,” I replied primly. “I’m not that hungry right now.”
Alexander leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Are you wearing panties, Ms. Harper?”
My cheeks flushed instantly. “Mr. Knight,” I hissed, nodding toward John.
Alexander merely smiled and placed his hand on my knee, sliding it upward beneath my dress. I grabbed his wrist, but he was stronger. His hand continued its journey upward until he encountered
the lace barrier.
His smile faded instantly, replaced by a dangerous glint in his eyes. “What’s this?” he murmured, running his finger along the edge of my underwear. “I believe I gave you specific instructions, Ms. Harper.”
I met his gaze defiantly. “We’re going to a political fundraiser. I wasn’t about to show up commando.
“1
His fingers played with the lace edge, catching my breath despite my irritation. “Disobedience requires punishment, you know.”
“We’re in a car,” I whispered urgently, glancing toward John in the front seat.
Alexander leaned in closer, his lips brushing my ear. “I’m well aware of our location.” His fingers slipped beneath the lace, making me jolt. “I’ll forgive you this time since plans changed and we’re attending an event. But make no mistake,” his fingers retreated, leaving me embarrassingly disappointed, “there will be consequences later.”
He withdrew his hand completely and straightened his jacket as if nothing had happened while I tried to regulate my breathing.
The car slowed, and I peered out the window, expecting to see some fancy hotel or restaurant. Instead, we were pulling up alongside the Hudson River, where a massive yacht was docked, lit up like a floating palace against the darkening sky.
“What’s this?” I asked as John pulled to a stop.
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“Senator Williams prefers water venues,” Alexander replied casually. “Less chance of unwanted press.”
I stepped out of the car and stared up at the enormous vessel. It had to be at least three decks high, with sleek, modern lines and gleaming white surfaces.
“This is a yacht?” I whispered as Alexander came to stand beside me.
He placed his hand on the small of my back to guide me toward the gangway. “It’s a superyacht. Two hundred and fifty feet of pure luxury.”
“How much does something like this cost?” I couldn’t help asking as we approached.
“About one hundred or two hundred million, give or take a few million for customizations.‘
I nearly tripped. “Two hundred million dollars? For a boat?”
“It’s not a boat, Madison. It’s a floating estate.” His hand pressed more firmly against my back. “Try not to look so impressed. These people can smell new money from a mile away.
We were greeted at the gangway by a uniformed attendant who checked our names against a list. Alexander nodded politely as we waved through, his demeanor shifting subtly into what I recognized as his public persona: slightly more reserved and calculating.
The main deck was already filled with people in formal attire, champagne flutes in hand, as they networked under the guise of small talk. The interior gleamed with polished wood, brass fixtures, and modern art adorning the walls. A string quartet played in one corner, providing elegant background music.
I tried not to gawk like a tourist, but it was difficult. I’d never been on a yacht, let alone a superyacht worth more than I’d earn in ten or twenty lifetimes.
The deck gleamed with polished teak. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting prismatic light over the crowd of well–dressed elites.
Looking around at the women in designer gowns dripping with diamonds, I suddenly felt like I was wearing a potato sack. My expensive black cocktail dress, which had seemed perfectly elegant in my apartment mirror, now felt like something from a department store clearance rack.
Alexander stood beside me, not touching me at all. His hands remained firmly at his sides or, occasionally, adjusting his cufflinks. Gone was the man who’d slid his hand up my thigh in the car. In his place stood Alexander Knight, business magnate, and real estate mogul, working the room with his eyes, calculating every interaction before it happened.
“Remember, you’re here as my PÅ tonight,” Alexander said quietly, his eyes scanning the crowd.
I nodded, relief washing over me. I’d been half–expecting him to introduce me as his girlfriend,
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parading me like a trophy. The thought of navigating these shark–infested social waters as Alexander Knight’s mysterious new love interest made my stomach clench. Being his PA was familiar territory. Safe.
Before I could respond, a man approached us from across the deck. I recognized him immediately.
Leo.
What was he doing here?
He and Alexander acknowledged each other with curt nods, not exchanging a single word.
My mind raced with possibilities. Were they planning something? Some kind of business discussion? Or something more sinister? For a wild moment, I imagined them plotting to blow up the yacht as part of some elaborate insurance fraud scheme. I almost laughed at my own ridiculous imagination. I’d been watching too many spy movies.
Alexander moved toward a passing waiter, returning with two flutes of champagne. He handed one
to me,
his fingers brushing mine deliberately.
“Don’t drink anything,” he whispered, his lips barely moving. Then he turned and walked away with Leo, leaving me standing alone with a glass of champagne I apparently wasn’t supposed to drink.
I stared after them, bewildered. Don’t drink anything? Why would he hand me a drink and then tell me not to drink it? Unless…
My stomach tightened. Was he worried again that someone might have tampered with the drinks? But why would anyone target me? I was nobody. Just his assistant.
Unless they knew about our arrangement. Unless they were trying to get to him through me.
I glanced down at the bubbling champagne, suddenly viewing it as potentially dangerous. Who would even want to drug me? It made no sense. If anyone was a target here, it was Alexander, not his assistant.
Still, I set the untouched champagne on a nearby table, not willing to risk it. Where had Alexander gone anyway? I scanned the crowd but couldn’t spot him or Leo. Had they gone below deck? To discuss what?
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.
