Chapter 264
Madison
+25 BONUS
I unlocked my apartment door as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake my mother. The living room was dark, but a faint light spilled from under her bedroom door. I kicked off my heels and padded toward it, listening for any sounds.
“Mom?” I called softly, knocking gently.
“Come in, sweetheart p>
I pushed the door open to find her propped up in bed, reading a magazine. My magazine. With Alexander’s face on the cover.
“Really, Mom?” I groaned, leaning against the doorframe.
She grinned, unrepentant. “Just doing some research on my future son–in–law p>
“He’s not we’re not-” I sputtered, then took a deep breath. “It’s still very new p>
“Hmm.” She flipped a page, studying it intently. “Says here he’s very wealthy p>
“Money isn’t everything p>
“Says the girl who’s been working extra hours to pay my medical bills.” She set the magazine aside, her expression softening. “He seems to care about you.
I crossed my arms defensively. “You met him for all of thirty minutes p>
“A mother knows these things.” She patted the bed beside her. “Come sit. Tell me how you two really met p>
I hesitated, then sank down onto the edge of the mattress. “At work. I’m his assistant, remember p>
“And when did it become more p>
The question hung in the air between us. When had it become more? Was it when he first touched me in his office? When he fucked me while under the influence? Or was it something subtler–the way he remembered how I took my coffee?
“It’s complicated,” I finally said.
“Relationships always are. But the good ones are worth the complications p>
I stared at my mother, her words hitting a little too close to home. Part of me wanted to blurt out the truth that Alexander and I had a business arrangement disguised as a relationship, that the only reason he’d met her was that he was footing her medical bills, that everything was just an elaborate charade with an expiration date.
Instead, I reached for her hand. “We’re still figuring things out. It’s new territory for both of us.” I squeezed her fingers gently. “Right now, you need to focus on recovering. I’ll figure out the Alexander situation p>
Mom’s eyes narrowed slightly. “The ‘Alexander situation‘? That’s an interesting way to describe your boyfriend.
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Chapter 270
+25 BONUS
“You know what I mean.” I stood up, straightening the blankets around her. “It’s complicated with him being my boss p>
“Just be careful, sweetheart.” Her expression softened. “Men like Alexander Knight are used to getting what they want p>
“Trust me, I’m well aware.” I headed toward the door. “I’m going to make some dinner. Any requests p>
“Something that doesn’t taste like hospital food,” she called after me.
I laughed, closing her door partway. “Setting the bar high, I see p>
In the kitchen, I rummaged through the fridge, pulling out ingredients for a simple pasta dish. As I chopped vegetables, my mind drifted back to Alexander’s words in the car.
“And if I want more p>
What did that even mean? More time? More sex? More control? He talked about extending our arrangement and making it public. He’d never once suggested changing the fundamental nature of our arrangement. Not once had he said, “Let’s forget the contract and just date like normal people.” Not once had he suggested removing the transactional nature of our relationship.
The knife hit the cutting board with more force than necessary as I attacked an innocent onion.
“Stupid, confusing man,” I muttered, chopping the onion with unnecessary force. The knife slammed against the cutting board, making a satisfying thwack that matched my mood.
In a few months, our arrangement would be over. Alexander Knight would go back to his playboy lifestyle and probably sign another contract with some other desperate woman who needed money. The thought made my
stomach turn.
“Not that I care,” I whispered to the tomato I was now dicing. “He can do whatever he wants with whoever he wants once our contract is up p>
I tossed the vegetables into the sizzling pan, enjoying the aggressive sizzle as they hit the hot oil. Alexander Knight was just a chapter in my life, a complicated, frustrating, occasionally mind–blowing chapter that had a definite ending. That’s all.
Twenty minutes later, I carried two plates to the small dining table where Mom was already seated, flipping through another magazine.
“Smells delicious,” she said, setting aside her reading material. I noticed Alexander’s face on the cover and resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“ It’s just pasta. Nothing fancy p>
“After hospital food, cardboard would taste gourmet.” She twirled pasta around her fork. “So, tell me more about work. How’s the Manhattan Project coming along p>
I relaxed slightly, grateful for the neutral topic. “Good. We’re ahead of schedule on the preliminary assessments. The team’s been great p>
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Chapter 270
“And Alexander is okay with you running such a big project p>
I nearly choked on my water. “Why wouldn’t he be p>
She shrugged. “Some men get intimidated when their girlfriends are successful p>
“Alexander isn’t like that,” I said automatically. “He’s actually the one who promoted me p>
“Smart man.” Mom took another bite. “This is delicious, by the way p>
“Thanks p>
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes before she spoke again.
“I like him, you know p>
I didn’t need to ask who she meant. “You barely know him p>
+25 BONUS
“I’m a good judge of character.” She pointed her fork at me. “And he looks at you the way your father used to look at me p>
I nearly dropped my fork. “Mom, please p>
“What? It’s true. Like you’re the most fascinating puzzle he’s ever encountered p>
I stabbed a piece of pasta. “Alexander Knight doesn’t do puzzles. He does business deals and arrangements p>
“If you say so,” she replied, her voice tinged with doubt. The skepticism was clear in her eyes, even if she didn’t voice it outright. “Could you pass the salt, please p>
I handed her the salt shaker, the brief exchange of glances between us conveying more than words ever could.
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Sara Lili
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.