Chapter 324
Alexander
I stared at the door Madison had just walked through, an unfamiliar heaviness settling in my chest. Her words echoed in my head: “I think we should end the arrangement.‘
What the hell had just happened?
I leaned back in my chair, trying to make sense of it. One minute, we were discussing tomorrow’s schedule, the next, she was throwing Katherine in my face and walking away from our arrangement.
“Goddamnit,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
The coffee she’d brought sat untouched on my desk, steam still rising from it. Double shot, just as I’d asked. Even when she was furious with me, she still did her job perfectly. That was Madison, professional to a fault.
I grabbed the coffee and took a long sip, grimacing at the bitter taste. She’d forgotten the sugar. Madison never forgot the sugar.
She was rattled. Because of Katherine? The thought seemed absurd. There was nothing between Katherine and me anymore; it hadn’t been for years. Those business meetings were exactly that: business. The photos had been taken out of context, manipulated to create a story that didn’t exist. 1
But Madison had believed it. Worse, she’d ended our arrangement because of it.
I tapped my fingers against the desk, replaying our conversation. She’d mentioned gossip, office talk about her sleeping her way to promotions, being my “flavor of the month.” The thought of anyone speaking about Madison that way made my blood boil.
“Who said those things?” I wondered aloud.
Whoever they were, they’d pay for it.
I picked up my phone and dialed Laura Taylor’s extension.
“Mr. Knight,” she answered promptly. “What can I do for you?”
“I need you in my office. Now.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Five minutes later, Laura knocked on my door. She entered looking composed as always, her tablet tucked under
her arm.
“Close the door,” I instructed.
She did as asked, then took a seat across from me. “Is everything alright, Mr. Knight?”
“No, everything is not alright.” I leaned forward, hands clasped on the desk. “I’ve received reports of inappropriate workplace gossip. Specifically, comments about certain employees‘ qualifications and how they obtained their positions.”
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Laura’s expression remained neutral, but I caught the slight widening of her eyes. “I see. Can you be more specific?”
“I’m not going to name names, but I want a company–wide memo sent out immediately. Zero tolerance for workplace gossip, especially the kind that undermines colleagues‘ professional achievements. Make it clear that this behavior violates our harassment policies and will result in immediate disciplinary action.”
Laura nodded, making notes on her tablet. “Of course. I’ll draft something right away.”
“I want it sent today. And I want you to organize mandatory sensitivity training for all departments. Starting with Accounting and Legal.”
She looked up sharply at that. “Did something specific happen in those departments?”
“Just a hunch,” I said, not willing to reveal what Madison had overheard. “I also want you to review our anti- harassment policies. Make sure they explicitly cover gossip that undermines professional reputations.”
“I’ll get right on it.” She hesitated, then asked, “Is there anything else I should know? Any specific incidents that prompted this?”
“Just clean it up. I won’t have talented employees‘ reputations tarnished by idle gossip. This company operates on merit, not rumors.”
“Understood.” She rose to leave. “I’ll have the memo drafted within the hour for your approval.”
“Good. And make sure everyone understands the severity of this. I want names if this continues.”
“Crystal clear, Mr. Knight.”
After she left, I swiveled my chair to face the floor–to–ceiling windows, staring out at the Manhattan skyline without really seeing it.
Madison wanted out of our arrangement. The thought kept circling back, gnawing at me like a persistent ache. Why did it bother me so much? We’d both entered into it knowing it was temporary, a business transaction with an expiration date.
But somewhere along the line, things had changed. I enjoyed having Madison in my life. She challenged me, stood up to me, and kept me grounded in ways no one else did. And in bed… Christ, the chemistry between us was explosive.
I’d never intended to make our arrangement permanent. That wasn’t my style. I didn’t do long–term relationships.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my recent calls until I found Katherine’s number. My thumb hovered over it before I tossed the phone aside with a curse.
No. Calling Katherine wouldn’t solve anything. This wasn’t about her; it was about Madison.
Madison, who thought she was just a placeholder. Madison, who believed I was rekindling things with my ex. Madison, who’d heard her colleagues reducing her to “the boss’s plaything” and had the courage to walk away
rather than endure it.
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I admired her for that, even as it frustrated the hell out of me.
My phone buzzed with an email from Laura, the draft memo for my review. I scanned it quickly.
TO: All Knight Industries Employees
FROM: Laura Taylor, Head of Human Resources
SUBJECT: Workplace Respect and Anti–Gossip Policy
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It has come to management’s attention that there have been instances of inappropriate workplace gossip targeting colleagues‘ professional qualifications and personal lives. This behavior violates Knight Industries‘ harassment policies and will not be tolerated.
Effective immediately:
- Any employee engaging in malicious gossip that undermines colleagues‘ professional achievements or personal dignity will face disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
- All departments will participate in mandatory respect in the workplace training sessions to be scheduled in the coming weeks.
- Managers are directed to address any instances of inappropriate gossip immediately.
Knight Industries prides itself on a workplace culture built on merit, mutual respect, and professionalism. We expect all employees to uphold these values in their daily interactions.
If you witness or experience inappropriate workplace gossip, please report it to Human Resources immediately.
Laura Taylor
Head of Human Resources
Knight Industries
I hit reply.
Me: Approved. Send immediately.
There. That was one problem addressed. But it didn’t solve the bigger issue: Madison ending our arrangement.
I spun my chair back to face my desk, eyes falling on a stack of preliminary designs for the Manhattan project, Madison’s project. She’d transformed from my efficient assistant to a confident project manager in a matter of months, impressing even the most skeptical members of the development team.
She’d done that on her own merit. Anyone who suggested otherwise was dead wrong.
“Goddamnit,” I muttered, tapping my pen against the desk.
This whole situation was absurd. Madison had ended our arrangement over what? Photos with Katherine? Office gossip? After everything we’d been through, she was letting external factors dictate our relationship.
“From day one,” I said to the empty room, “I asked her to make it public. I offered to take her everywhere,
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introduce her as my girlfriend.”
I pushed back from my desk, pacing to the window. Madison was the one who refused, insisting on keeping our arrangement private. And now she was upset because people thought she was my dirty little secret?
“Unbelievable.”
The Manhattan skyline stretched before me, but I barely saw it. My mind was filled with images of Madison’s face when she’d walked out, hurt, angry, and something else I couldn’t quite place.
“She’ll be back,” I told myself confidently. “Once she cools down and thinks about this rationally, she’ll realize how ridiculous this all is.”
Chapter 325
Chapter 325
Madison
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.
