331
Chapter 331
Madison
Outside, his Bentley waited at the curb, engine purring softly in the cool night air.
+25 BONUS
The drive to my apartment was quiet, the city lights sliding past the windows in a blur of color. I watched Alexander’s profile as he drove, the strong line of his jaw, the slight furrow between his brows as he concentrated on the road.
“My mother has been asking about you, Mr. Knight,” I said as we neared my building, breaking the silence.
His eyebrows lifted slightly. “Has she?”
“She wants you to come over again sometime. For breakfast, actually.” I fidgeted with the clasp of my clutch. ‘ She makes incredible pancakes.”
“Pancakes.” He repeated the word as if testing it, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“You don’t have to,” I added quickly. “I know you’re busy. And it’s not… I mean, given our current situation, it might be awkward.”
“Our current situation.”
“Yes. You know.” I gestured vaguely between us. “Professional relationship only.”
Alexander pulled up in front of my building and shifted the car into park. “And what will you tell your mother when our professional relationship becomes evident?”
“I’ll wait until she’s fully recovered,” I explained. “Then I’ll tell her we broke up. She doesn’t need that stress right now.”
He nodded slowly, considering this. “And you want me to maintain the charade until then?”
“Only if you want to,” I clarified. “I’m not forcing you. If it’s too uncomfortable, I can make excuses.”
Alexander turned to look at me fully, his blue eyes unreadable in the dim light of the car. “I’ll think about it,” he said finally. “And let you know.”
“Okay,” I reached for the door handle. “Thank you for dinner, Mr. Knight. It was lovely.”
“My pleasure, Ms. Harper.”
I stepped out of the car, the cool night air a stark contrast to the heated interior. As I closed the door, I caught one last glimpse of Alexander’s face, his expression enigmatic.
The Bentley pulled away from the curb, disappearing into the Manhattan traffic. I stood for a moment, watching until the taillights vanished around a corner.
Inside my apartment building, I kicked off my heels as soon as the elevator doors closed, wincing at the relief. Fancy galas called for fancy shoes, and fancy shoes were instruments of torture disguised as fashion.
My apartment was dark and quiet when I entered. Mom must have already gone to bed. I moved silently through
1/4
Chapter 331
+25 BONUS
the living room, careful not to wake het.
In my bedroom, I unzipped the midnight blue gown, letting it pool at my feet. The diamonds came off next and were returned to their velvet box. Tomorrow, I’d have to find a way to return them to Alexander without making things awkward.
As I washed my face, removing the carefully applied makeup, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Same face, same eyes, same Madison Harper who had walked into Knight Industries, desperate for a job.
Except not the same at all.
That Madison hadn’t known what it felt like to have Alexander Knight’s hands on her body. Hadn’t experienced the weight of his gaze across a crowded room. Hadn’t felt the complex mixture of desire and frustration and something deeper that now lived permanently in her chest.
I crawled into bed, exhausted but wide awake, my mind replaying every moment of the evening. The professional conversation. The excellent food. Brief moments when an unnamed, dangerous sensation flickered
between us.
“It’s over,” I whispered to myself in the darkness. “The arrangement is over.”
But sleep wouldn’t come. I tossed and turned, replaying every moment of the evening: Alexander’s penetrating gaze across the table, Katherine’s possessive touches, the way he’d ordered for me with such confidence.
With a frustrated sigh, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. Bad idea. My thumb automatically opened social media, and there they were: dozens of articles about the Knight Industries Charity Gala.
“POWER COUPLE REUNITED: Alexander Knight and Katherine Sinclair Steal the Show at Annual Gala”
“Fashion Designer Katherine Sinclair Returns to New York and to Alexander Knight’s Side.”
“Knight Industries CEO and Fashion Mogul Sinclair: Business Partners or Something More?”
Every headline featured glamorous photos of them together: Alexander in his perfectly tailored tuxedo and Katherine resplendent in crimson. They did make a striking pair, I had to admit. Were these genuine articles or Katherine’s PR stunt, paying journalists to write about them?
The articles barely mentioned me, save for a few business publications noting my presentation on the Manhattan Project.
“Rising project manager Madison Harper discussed Knight Industries‘ sustainable development initiative…”
That was it. A footnote. If I hadn’t been the project manager, I wouldn’t have been mentioned at all.
“Just an employee,” I muttered, scrolling through more photos of Alexander and Katherine. “That’s all I am
now.”
A text notification from Hazel popped up.
Hazel: You looked amazing tonight! Saw pics online. Tell me EVERYTHING tomorrow!
I closed the app without responding. What could I even say? “Hey, my fake boyfriend, who I’m falling for, is
2/4
Chapter 331
+25 BONUS
back with his ex, but don’t worry, he took me to dinner after parading her around all night.”
I tossed my phone aside and stared at the ceiling. What did it matter if Alexander and Katherine were dating or ” just friends” like he claimed? It wasn’t my business anymore. I’d ended the arrangement. I needed to focus on my life, career, mother’s health, and future.
“Professional. I can be professional,” I assured my bedroom ceiling. “It’s just work. Just a job.”
A job where my boss had seen me naked. Where he’d pushed me against walls and made me beg. Where he’d called me Maddie in that voice that made my knees weak.
“Fuck,” I groaned, grabbing a pillow and pressing it over my face.
My phone buzzed again. I ignored it, but curiosity won out after thirty seconds of willpower.
It wasn’t Hazel this time, but a news alert: “EXCLUSIVE: Sources Say Knight Industries CEO Back Together with Fashion Designer Ex”
“Oh, fantastic,” I said to the empty room. “Thanks for the update, universe.”
I switched off my phone completely and hurled it across the room onto the armchair. It bounced off and landed with a thud on the carpet.
“Very mature, Madison,” I scolded myself, getting up to retrieve it.
As I bent to pick up my phone, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. Hair tousled, eyes wide, wearing only an oversized t–shirt, I looked exactly like what I was: a woman obsessing over a man who was clearly moving on.
“This stops now,” I told my reflection firmly. “No more checking for articles. No more analyzing every word he says. No more wondering if he’s sleeping with Katherine. Professional. Madison. Professional.”
My reflection didn’t look convinced.
I crawled back into bed, determined to sleep.
My mind, however, had other plans.
Was Alexander with Katherine right now? Had he taken her back to his penthouse after dropping me off? Were they laughing about me over champagne?
“Stop it,” I hissed, punching my pillow into submission. “You broke it off, remember? You have no right to be jealous,”
But I was jealous. Blindingly, painfully jealous.
I pictured them together, his hands in her hair, his lips on her neck, his voice rough with desire as he commanded her…
“Professional colleagues,” I reminded myself. “That’s all we are now. That’s all we’ll ever be.”
I flipped onto my stomach, burying my face in the pillow. Katherine could have him. They deserved each other: two beautiful, successful people with perfect hair, trust funds, and probably matching monogrammed
3/4
Chapter 331
+25 BONUS
bathrobes.
“I have spreadsheets,” I told myself lamely. “And a promotion. And a mother who’s finally getting better. Focus on that.”
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.
