Chapter 178
Chapter 183
Madison
Back to Now…
Alexander’s eyes met mine, a mix of triumph and something darker swirling in their depths. “We found who ‘S‘ is p>
My heart skipped a beat. After weeks of uncertainty, the mysterious woman who’d drugged
Alexander had a name.
“What? Who is it?” I leaned forward, nearly knocking over my espresso.
Alexander slipped his phone into his jacket pocket. “Leo didn’t say over the phone. We need to go
meet him now to find out p>
“Right now?” I glanced longingly at my half–eaten soufflé.
“Finish your dessert p>
I scooped up another bite of the decadent chocolate, savoring it despite my racing thoughts.
Alexander watched me with that intense gaze that always made me feel like I was the dessert.
“You have chocolate…” He reached across the table, his thumb brushing the corner of my mouth. Instead of pulling away, he lifted his thumb to his lips and licked it clean.
“Mr. Knight,” I whispered, my cheeks heating.
“What?” He smirked. “I’m not letting good chocolate go to waste p>
We finished our desserts in charged silence. Alexander paid the bill with a generous tip, and minutes later, we were back in his car.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the city as we pulled away from the restaurant, the luxurious leather seats cradling me in comfort.
Alexander drove with the same confidence he approached everything else in life–one hand on the wheel, the other occasionally brushing against my knee when he shifted gears. Each casual touch sent electricity through my body.
“Where are we meeting Leo?” I asked, trying to focus on something other than the way Alexander’s fingers had just grazed my thigh.
“He shared a location in the outskirts,” Alexander replied, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “An abandoned warehouse district p>
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“Okay p>
My phone buzzed in my purse. I pulled it out and saw Jackson’s name on the screen.
“Free this weekend?” his message read, followed by a winking emoji.
I bit my lip, considering my response. “Why?” I typed back.
His reply came almost immediately: “Because I miss your smile. Let me take you somewhere nice where I can see it all evening p>
“I haven’t thought about my weekend plans yet. I’ll let you know if I’m free,” I responded, trying to keep it casual.
“I’ll be waiting by my phone. Don’t leave me hanging too long, Mads,” he replied with another emoji, this one blowing a kiss.
I stared at Jackson’s message, the blowing kiss emoji making me smile and feel a twinge of unease. We’d been friends for years, but his interest in me complicated things.
“Who are you chatting with p>
Alexander’s voice startled me. I glanced up to find his eyes flicking between the road and my phone screen. I quickly locked my phone, sliding it into my lap.
“Just a friend,” I replied casually.
“Male or female friend?” His tone was light, but I caught the edge beneath it.
I raised an eyebrow. “Why are you asking? Curious to know or jealous p>
Alexander’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “I’m neither curious nor jealous, Madison. I’m simply reminding you that you’re my girlfriend now. You agreed to exclusivity. That means no dates with other men.” His fingers tapped against the steering wheel. “Going on dates would violate the terms of our arrangement p>
“Chatting with a friend doesn’t mean I’m going on a date,” I pointed out, feeling a flare of defiance.
“I’m just reminding you of the terms,” he said smoothly. “The contract was very clear about exclusivity p>
“I remember what I signed, Mr. Knight.” I crossed my arms. “I’m not planning to violate the terms.
Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Good. Because I take contracts very seriously p>
I turned to face him fully, something inside me refusing to be intimidated. “You don’t need to worry, Mr. Knight. I have no intention of violating our contract. But can you be equally sure that you won’t
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go against it p>
His eyebrows shot up, clearly surprised by my challenge. “Are you questioning my integrity, Madison p>
“I’m questioning your track record,” I replied, keeping my voice light. “From what I understand, exclusivity hasn’t exactly been your strong suit in the past.
11
Alexander’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile before he controlled it. “I won’t break our contract. And if by some unforeseen circumstance I do, I’ll pay the penalty p>
“So you aren’t sure?” I pressed, feeling oddly emboldened.
He turned onto a less populated street, and the buildings became more industrial around us. “No one can predict the future with absolute certainty. But I will try my best not to break it p>
“Let’s wait and see,” I said, settling back into my seat.
Alexander chuckled. “You’re different today. More… assertive p>
“Maybe I’m getting comfortable with our arrangement p>
“Or maybe you’re testing boundaries.” His hand moved from the gear shift to my knee, gently
squeezing it. “I should warn you, I’m quite fond of maintaining boundaries. Especially the ones I set.
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My phone buzzed again. Jackson’s name flashed on the screen.
“Your friend again?” Alexander asked, his tone deceptively casual.
“Yes.” I opened the message.
“Just saw a woman who looked like you from behind. I got excited, then disappointed when she turned around. No one has your curves, Mads p>
I felt my cheeks warm as I quickly locked my phone.
“What did he say?” Alexander asked, his eyes still on the road.
“Nothing important p>
“Your blush suggests otherwise. ” His fingers tapped against the steering wheel. “Who is he p>
“Just an old friend p>
“A friend who makes you blush? Interesting.” Alexander’s voice had that dangerous edge to it. “Does this friend have a name p>
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I sighed. “Jackson. We’ve known each other for years p>
“And does Jackson know about our arrangement p>
“Of course not p>
Alexander nodded slowly. “And what does Jackson want p>
“To catch up,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Is that all?” Alexander’s skepticism was palpable.
“Why are you so interested in Jackson?” I deflected.
“Because I’m interested in anything that makes my girlfriend blush.” He emphasized the word ‘ girlfriend‘ in a way that sent a tingle down my spine. “Especially when it’s not me causing it p>
Lucia Morh
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.